Royal Road to Card Magic The

in all great tricks, is simple. The four aces are transformed in a spectator's hands into four other cards and they are finally found in one of his pockets.
    You will need a deck of cards and four duplicate aces. On the top of the deck place the four duplicate aces, with the ace of clubs uppermost. On top of all place the ace of clubs from the deck, so that at the top you have two aces of clubs followed by the three duplicate aces. The other three aces of the deck are scattered through it. Remove any four indifferent cards from the pack, then put it in its case and put the case on your table.
    1. Invite a spectator to come forwards to assist you. Seat the volunteer at a small table at your left. Pick up the card case and, saying that you will use a deck of cards, remove the cards and lay the case on the table. Spread the cards with their faces outwards, showing them but keeping the aces at the top bunched together. Close the spread and insert your left little finger under the five top cards. Square the deck and hold the break under the five top cards by pressing the little finger firmly against the side of the deck. You can then hold the deck quite openly, yet you are ready to palm the five cards whenever you please.
    2. Address the spectator. 'You are to act as a committee of one on behalf of this large and intellectual audience, so I want you to be absolutely satisfied about everything that takes place. You agree to that?'
    'Yes.'
    'First, we haven't made any arrangement about this trick, have we?'
    'No.'
    'As a matter of fact, you have never seen me before in your life, have you?'
    'No.' (Sometimes when the assistant is an acquaintance and people know it, you get some fun out of his accommodating answer.)
    'Fine, you will be satisfied about everything that takes place?'
    'Yes.'
    'You won't say yes if you mean no?'
    'No.'
    'You mean no?'
    'Yes.'
    'Good! Now that we thoroughly understand each other, will you take the deck, remove the aces and see that there are only four all together?' In the meantime, you have quietly palmed the five top cards and taken the pack in your right hand.
    3. Place the deck on the table before him and, as he begins to run through it, turn to the audience. 'You cannot be too careful. Some people, especially when playing poker, use a lot of aces.' Turn to your assistant, who has found and removed three aces and is searching for the ace of clubs. 'One, two, three aces,' you say. 'What have you done with the fourth?' Seize his right lapel with your right hand, pulling his jacket open. Hold it for a moment as you say to the audience, 'Did you see what he did?' Then take the lapel with your left hand and thrust your right hand into his inner breast pocket. Bring out the first ace of clubs and leave the other four aces in the pocket. Show it, and under cover of the laughter this causes, whisper to him, 'Button up your jacket just to make them laugh.' He does this, and the action always causes amusement. It also safeguards you against any premature discovery of the duplicate aces, safely ensconced in the buttoned jacket.
    4. 'You mustn't do that.
I'm
the one to do the trick, you are the committee.' Take the deck, open it bookwise and have the spectator insert the four aces. Close the pack on them, and in putting it on the table make a pretence of manipulating the cards. 'Now, the aces are in the middle of the deck?' Having seen you make a suspicious move, he will express doubt about that. 'You are quite right,' you say. 'I want you to be perfectly satisfied. Watch.' Take the deck, turn it face upwards, run through it to the four aces and show them in the middle. 'Right?' Close the spread, inserting your left little fingertip above two of the aces. Make the pass in turning the deck face downwards and lay the cards on the table.
    5. 'Now, those four aces placed in the middle by yourself will travel to any position you may like to name. For instance, would you like them all at the top or all at the bottom, or one on the top and three on the bottom, or one on the bottom and three on the top, or, say, two at the top and two at the bottom?' Rattle off the first choices very rapidly, the last after a momentary pause, then say, 'Wait. For greater safety, place your hand on the deck.'
    Nearly always the spectator chooses the last suggestion. 'Two above and two below,' he says. Tap the deck with your right forefinger, say, 'Pass!' and then have him remove the cards himself. A round of applause is sure to