pack of cards is truly a monument of the olden time--the days of
chivalry and its numberless associations.

In addition to the details I have given in the previous chapter
respecting the probability of holding certain cards, there are a few
other curious facts concerning them, which it may be interesting to
know.

There is a difference in the eyes of two of the knaves--those of
diamonds and hearts, more apparent in the old patterns, suggesting the
inference that they are blind. This has been made the basis of a card
trick, as to which two of the four knaves presenting themselves would be
selected as servants. Of course the blind ones would be rejected. A bet
is sometimes proposed to the unwary, at Whist, but one of the party will
have in his hand, after the deal, only one of a suit, or none of a suit.
The bet should not be taken, as this result very frequently happens.

Lastly, there is an arithmetical puzzle of the most startling effect
to be contrived with a pack of cards, as follows. Let a party make up
parcels of cards, beginning with a number of pips on any card, and then
counting up to twelve with individual cards. In the first part of the
trick it must be understood that the court cards count as ten, all
others according to the pips. Thus, a king put down will require only
two cards to make up 12, whereas the ace will require 11, and so on.
Now, when all the parcels are completed, the performer of the trick
requires to know only the number of parcels thus made, and the
remainder, if any, to declare after a momentary calculation, the exact
number of pips on the first cards laid down--to the astonishment of
those not in the secret. In fact, there is no possible arrangement of
the cards, according to this method, which can prevent an adept from
declaring the number of pips required, after being informed of the
number of parcels, and the remainder, if any. This startling performance
will be explained in a subsequent chapter--amusing card tricks.

Cards must soon have made their way among our countrymen, from the great
intercourse that subsisted between England and France about the time of
the first introduction of cards into the latter kingdom. If the din of
arms in the reign of our fifth Henry should seem unfavourable to the
imitation of an enemy's private diversions, it must be remembered
that France was at that period under the dominion of England, that
the English lived much in that country, and consequently