Royal Road to Card Magic The

available from any magic supplies shop. Work a small pellet until it is tacky and affix it to one of the buttons on your left sleeve, where it is readily accessible. You will also need an opaque linen handkerchief.
    1. Take a shuffled pack; have a card removed and noted by all. Have it replaced in the pack and secure a left little finger break above it as described under the spread and break. Glance about you and ask for the loan of a handkerchief. Make the pass, bringing the chosen card to the top as you advance to accept a proffered handkerchief. If it does not appear to be opaque, say, 'On second thoughts, I'll use my own,' and remove it from your pocket.
    2. Hold the pack in your left hand and draw back the left sleeve a little with the right hand, grasping it at the wrist and securing the pellet of wax on the right second finger. As you do this say, 'Let's find a good place to do this trick. The floor is probably best.' If this is not feasible, move towards a nearby table. In either case fix the wax to the back of a chosen card near the middle of the card.
    3. Let us say that you sit cross-legged on the floor. Still holding the pack in your left hand, show the handkerchief on both sides. Drape it over the pack and in arranging it press down on the wax through the cloth, which will make the card adhere firmly to the fabric. Place the pack on the floor before you (figure 92, step 1), with the handkerchief centred over the pack. Corner 1 is nearest you.

    4. Fold corner 1 towards corner 2. As you do this and the following arrangement, say, 'I used to do a trick in which I was blindfolded and found the chosen card, but this became tiring. Now I do the trick the easy way. I blindfold the pack instead.'
    5. Grasp both layers of the handkerchief at the points marked A-A (step 2). Lift the handkerchief and the card, which adheres to it, upwards between the thumb and middle fingers of each hand, and corners 1 and 2 will fold downwards over the chosen card on the side away from you, concealing it from the audience (step 3).
    6. Place the folded handkerchief on the pack (step 4), with the hidden card directly over the pack.
    7. Using both hands, place the thumbs at B-B and the fingers at C-C (step 5), and fold the cloth over inwards towards yourself once. Replace the folded handkerchief over the pack.
    8. Draw corner 1 from under the folded handkerchief on the side away from you (step 6).
    9. 'In this trick I don't tell you the name of your card. The pack itself, even though blindfolded, will reveal your card.' Grasp corners 1 and 2 and pull them in opposite directions. The handkerchief unfolds and the card seems to melt through the fabric to appear face upwards (step 7). 'You see? Your card has popped straight up through the handkerchief. A very clever pack, don't you think?'
    The folding of the handkerchief, once learned, is done in seconds.
    Double Speller
    A trick that can be performed in a minute or two - and one that has strong elements of surprise - is valuable for the early part of an impromptu performance. The following is an excellent feat of this type, both in technique and effect.
    1. Have a card drawn, noted by all and replaced in the pack, securing a little finger break above it by means of the spread and break. Make the pass, bringing the card to the top, as you say, 'Everything in nature is vibration. Since this is so, cards also vibrate, and to find your card I have only to measure the vibration of each card.'
    2. Place the pack to your left ear, ruffle the cards and say, 'Hmmm' in a thoughtful tone. Shuffle the cards overhand, placing one card above the spectator's card so that it is second from the top.
    3. Again ruffle the cards at your ear, saying, 'I think I have it. A very definite plus-nine vibration.' Push the two cards at the top of the pack to the right a little with the left thumb. Grasp the top card, an indifferent one, and turn it face upwards on the pack. In squaring the cards, slip the tip of the left little finger under the second card in preparation for a double lift.
    4. 'Your card?' you enquire. Receiving a negative response, say apologetically, 'Of course, I didn't really think it was. The cards don't really vibrate you know.' Grasp the two cards above the little finger break at the ends near the right corners, and perform the double-lift card reversal, second method.
    5. Square the pack and the chosen card is reversed at the top; that is to say, it is the lowermost card as you hold the