Royal Road to Card Magic The

follow.
    If another position is chosen, you have at least one ace already there. Take the pack and let the spectator remove that one. Then, as he shows it, make the pass to bring the others to the position required.
    6. Show the four aces and place them on the top of the deck. 'You did that very well. With a few years' practice I'm sure you will make a good magician. Now, suppose I place the aces on the table, so [deal them face downwards], and you place your hand on them.' Grasp his hand and place it on the four cards. 'Do you think I could take them away from you and send you four other cards? You'd like to see me try? By the way, are you quite sure that you have the four aces?'
    The spectator, not having seen the aces since they were placed on the deck, expresses his doubts. 'That's right. I'm glad you are a little sceptical, for I want you to be quite certain. See [take the four cards and show them], they are the four aces.' Replace them on the top of the pack.
    7.
Look at your hands
, make a rapid movement as if making the pass, then deal the four top cards on the table, and again place his hand on them. 'This time you have them?' The spectator responds that he is not at all sure about that. 'There is such a thing as being too sceptical,' you say. 'Turn the cards over yourself.' As he does so slip the tip of your left little finger under the top card. He turns the cards over and shows the aces.
    8. Take them again. Casually place them on the deck, then remove them, taking the top card with them. 'There has been no change so far,' you say, holding the packet of five cards up so that he and the audience can see the face of the indifferent card. Drop the packet on the deck and then deal off the four aces. Grasp his hand and place it on them. 'This time you have the aces.' The spectator vigorously protests that he has not. Appeal to the onlookers, 'You are all satisfied that the aces are on the table?' There will be cries of 'No! No!'
    Pretend to be at a loss as to how there can be any doubt about the matter and turn to the spectator. 'I can't do the trick until you are perfectly satisfied. Please turn the aces over and show them to everybody.' In the meantime you have had ample opportunity to palm five cards from the top of the deck in your right hand. Retain the deck in that hand.
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    The aces are shown amidst laughter and much to the surprise of all. Maintain your attitude of being a little bewildered by the attitude of the audience. Take the aces one by one in your left hand, and hold them face downwards. Lay the pack down and suggest that the spectator look it over. Take the aces with your right hand, adding the five palmed cards to them. Hold the packet face outwards by the ends between the right thumb and fingers and say, 'Now, to make quite sure there can be no mistake, I'll give the aces a good bend, so.' Squeeze the ends, making the face of the packet concave. 'There can be no doubt about the aces now.'
    9. Take the deck in your left hand, and drop the packet from your right hand on top. 'Can you tell me where the aces are now?' you ask. Seeing the bent cards, the spectator answers confidently, 'On the top.' 'Satisfied at last. Watch very closely.' Deal the four top cards very delicately one by one and place them in a pile before him. As you remove the fourth card press the left thumb on the pack, taking the bend out of the other cards. Turn the top indifferent card face upwards, saying, 'You see, they're all gone.' In replacing it slide it under the top ace, which you push off the pack a little to facilitate this (figure 127). 'Place your hand on the aces and your other hand on top of that. Don't move your hands or the audience will think you are doing the trick instead of me.

    10. 'Here's the impossible thing I shall try to do. I shall change those four aces you are holding so tightly and send you four other cards. Here is one card.' Make the double lift and turn-over, showing the indifferent card seen just before. Turn them down as one card and thumb off the top card - an ace - face downwards on the table.
    Begin an overhand shuffle by pulling out all except the top and bottom cards, thus keeping the changed card out of sight, drop the pack on the two cards, undercut half the deck, injog the first card, and shuffle off. Undercut to the injog, bringing the three aces back to the top. Take off two cards as one and, holding them towards the spectator, ask him to breathe on the card. As he does so, slide