Royal Road to Card Magic The

the packet, retaining a grip on one corner. 'How many cards do you hold?' Ask him this abruptly and almost invariably he will reply 'Six.' All those except the few close to the spectator think that he has actually counted the cards, and this makes the passage of the next card all the more baffling. In the rare case when the spectator replies 'I don't know' or starts to count the cards, you override him by saying strongly, 'Six cards.
Watch!
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    Ruffle the corner of the cards, saying, 'Did you feel it go? One of the cards slipped away from you. Kindly count the cards.' Extend your left palm and have him deal them onto it, counting the cards aloud as he does so, 'One, two, three, four, five!'
    Turn so that your right side is towards him, saying, 'Please remove the card which only a moment ago you yourself held in your hands.' Perhaps a little awkwardly he will dip into your pocket with two fingers and remove the card. Take it from him and hold it high in the air, exclaiming, 'And here is the fifth card!' This is a climax, so make the most of it.
    Turn immediately and return to your place, still holding the card aloft. In most cases you will be applauded at this point if you have performed the trick well. When the applause has subsided, drop the last card to one side.
    14. 'Five cards remain. I'll count them for you again.' Count the five, but this time, when you place the fourth card in front of those already in the right hand, jog its lower end 12 mm (½ in) below the other cards. Replace the five cards in your left hand and in squaring them, press down on the jogged card with your right thumb and take a left little finger break above it, in readiness to palm off the three cards above it.
    15. 'May I call your attention to the fact that my trouser-pocket remains empty at all times between the passage of the cards.' In a natural movement let the right hand be seen empty, withdraw the lining of the pocket and replace it.
    Bring the two hands together, square the cards once or twice, and utter some amusing pleasantry. When the audience reacts, palm the three top cards. Hold the remaining two cards as before, between the right thumb and index finger, and move the left hand away, holding the right motionless.
    16. 'I shall now attempt a feat rarely seen,' you announce. 'The passage of two cards at one and the same time - a feat so difficult that I hesitate to contemplate it, and therefore shall not contemplate it.' Now place the two exposed cards in the left hand, and carry your right with the palmed cards up the sleeve. Ruffle the two cards, thrust your right hand into your pocket, drop one of the cards, and remove the other two, holding them aloft. 'Here they are!'
    17. 'Three cards remain,' you point out. If convenient, advance to someone and extend the packet you hold. 'Will you kindly breathe on the cards?' The instant he does so, spread the two cards saying, 'Two cards only! One has shot into my pocket.' Turn your right side to him, saying, 'Kindly remove the card.' Take it from him when he removes it from your pocket, and hold it high so that all can see it. However, if it is inconvenient to approach a spectator, blow on the cards yourself, spread them, showing only two and remove the card from your pocket as usual.
    18. 'Two cards!' Hold one in each hand, face outwards. Place them squarely together and take them face inwards in the left hand. Touch the cards with the right hand and make a throwing motion towards your right pocket. 'Another card in the pocket!' Grasp the two cards at the ends between the right fingers and thumb, then grasp them firmly at the middle of the left side between the left thumb at the back and fingers at the face. Snap the two cards sharply with the right middle finger, exclaiming, 'One card only!'
    19. You are going to palm the rearmost of the two cards, and this must be done well. Take the two, as one, at the ends between the right thumb and fingers, and hold 'it' up so that all can see it. Place the two cards, face downward, in the left hand and, at the moment the left fingers take it, palm the top card by means of the first method of palming. Do not look at your hands as you do this. Immediately and smoothly move the right hand with the palmed card to your pocket, then dip into the pocket and remove the palmed card, showing it. 'Here's the card!'
    20. 'One card remains, and it is the hardest of them all!' Hold the card in your right hand, showing it. Hold your left hand with its back