application--does great credit to human ingenuity. Once admitting the
possibility of such conjuring, it is impossible to deny the propriety
of the reasonings deduced from the turning up, the collocation, or
the juxta-position of the various cards, when the formalities of the
peculiar shuffle and cut required have been duly complied with by the
consulter.

The cards are first shuffled ad libitum, then cut three different times,
and laid on a table, face upwards, one by one, in the form of a circle,
or more frequently nine in a row. If the conjurer is a man he chooses
one of the kings as his representative; if a woman, she selects one of
the queens. This is on the supposition that persons are consulting
for themselves; otherwise it is the fortune-teller who selects the
representative card. Then the queen of the chosen king, or the king of
the chosen queen, stands for a husband or wife, mistress or lover, of
the party whose fortune is to be told. The knave of the suit represents
the most intimate person of their family.

The ninth card every way, that is, counted from the representative, is
of the greatest consequence, and that interval comprises the 'circle' of
the inquirer, for good or for evil.

Now, all the cards have had assigned to them arbitrary, but plausible,
characteristics. Thus, the ace of clubs (that suit representing
originally the 'fortunate husbandmen') promises great wealth, much
prosperity in life, and tranquillity of mind--if it turns up within
your circle, as before mentioned. King of clubs announces a man of dark
complexion who is humane, upright, &c., in fact, just the man for a
husband. Queen of clubs is equally propitious as the emblem of a dark
lady who would prove a paragon wife. Knave of clubs, a jolly good
friend in every way. Ten of clubs always flurries the heart of the
inquirer--especially if 'hard up'--for it denotes riches speedily
forthcoming from an unexpected quarter--which is usually the case in
such circumstances; but then it also threatens the loss of some dear
friend--which, however, cannot signify much if you get 'the money.'
Seven of clubs promises the most brilliant fortune, and the most
exquisite bliss this world can afford; but then you are ungallantly
warned that you must 'beware of the opposite sex'--which seems a
contradiction in terms--for how call 'the most exquisite bliss this
world can afford' be secured without the aid of 'the opposite sex'?
Five of clubs is the main