Royal Road to Card Magic The

deck face upwards in the left hand. Explain your action in turning the pack by saying hopefully, 'I know it isn't the bottom card, either - but, on the other hand, it
might
be. Is it?' The spectator naturally says that it isn't.
    6. Look a little woebegone, cluck a little and then brighten. 'I'll find it another way!' Rap the pack on the table as if to square it, with the faces of the cards towards the spectator, at the same time glimpsing the reversed card at the top, which will be facing you. Let us say it is the ace of hearts.
    7. Hold the pack face upwards in your left hand, and thumb through the cards as if in search of the proper one. Actually, push one card into the right hand for each letter of the name of the card you just glimpsed -
a-c-e o-f h-e-a-r-t-s
, taking them one under the other and not reversing them. Place these cards at the top of the pack, that is to say, underneath the reversed card.
    8. Note the card now at the face of the pack - say the four of spades - and push one card into the right hand for each letter in its name as in step 7, transferring these cards to the top
as before.
    9. Turn the pack face downwards, saying, 'Just as I thought. A very difficult trick, but I have succeeded at last. I give the pack a tiny shake and your card rises to a new position in the pack, which enables me to do this.' Deal one card for each letter as you spell aloud the name of the second card -
f-o-u-r o-f s-p-a-d-e-s
- and turn up the last card, showing the four of spades. 'There you are - the four of spades!'
    10. Seem very happy about the trick and act as though you had finished. Someone will be sure to tell you that you haven't found the correct card. 'Not the correct card?' you exclaim. 'Why, I was positive - ah, now I remember! This trick won't work for a magician. You should do the spelling!'
    Hand him the pack and have him deal one card for each letter in the name of the card, in this case the ace of hearts. When he completes the deal, his card lies face upwards on the pack, staring him in the face.

CHAPTER 13

Miscellaneous Flourishes

    Colour Change
    The name given to this sleight is a misnomer; it really is the mysterious change of one card for another regardless of suit. The sleight has been termed the colour change for so long, however, that we shall continue to use the name for the sake of conformity.
    Almost all methods of performing the sleight involve the palming of cards. The method we give you is one of the easiest and best.
    1. Hold the pack in the left hand, the card faces towards the audience, with the thumb at the top side, the middle, ring and little fingers at the lower side, and the index finger curled behind the pack and out of sight.
    2. Raise the right hand; cover the pack for a moment, curling the top phalanxes of the fingers over the outer end; remove and drop the hand. Repeat this once or twice as you comment on the curious properties of this particular pack. These are feints to cover the palm which you will make in a moment.
    3. Cover the cards with the right hand once more, and at the same time push out the rear card 6 mm (½ in) with the left index finger (figure 93).

    4. Curl the right fingers over the outer end as before, and grip the edge of the protruding card in the top phalanx of the middle finger (figure 94).

    5. Move the right hand outwards and downwards, taking the rear card with it. Close the right middle, ring and little fingers slightly and the card will buckle into the palm, where it can be retained while the right forefinger points to the face card of the deck. At the same moment place the left index finger at the outer end of the pack, squaring it should this be necessary.
    6. Bring the right hand up to the pack, simulating the action of your previous feints, depositing the palmed card at the face of the pack. Without hesitation, move the right hand downwards, as though wiping the cards, and reveal that the card at the face has mysteriously changed. Neatly done, the illusion of a transformation is perfect.
    7. A very amusing bit of byplay that always evokes laughter is to move the right hand to the right side of the body after the change, curling the fingers awkwardly and extending the thumb at right angles from the hand. The audience assumes that you have palmed a card from the face of the pack and sometimes demands that you show your right hand. When this happens, affect to misunderstand, raise your right hand with its palm outwards, and point with the