t as the sixth, seventh, &c., which will
serve to effect several interesting tricks to be explained in the
sequel.

IV. To file the card.--To file the card is, when a card has been taken
from the pack to pretend to place it about the middle of the pack,
whilst, in reality, you place it at the bottom.

The pack must be held in the left hand, between the thumb and
forefinger, so that the three other fingers be free. One of the middle
cards should project a little. Then take the card to be filed between
the forefinger and the middle finger of the right hand; advance the
right hand from the left, and whilst the three disengaged fingers of
the left hand seize and place the card under the pack, the thumb and
forefinger of the right seize the projecting card before mentioned, so
that it seems to be that card which you have slipped into the middle of
the pack. These movements are very easy, and, when rapidly performed,
the illusion is complete.

TRICKS.

1. To tell a card thought of by a party after three deals.

Take twenty-one cards of a pack, and deal them out one by one in three
lots, requesting the party to think of a card, and remember in which lot
it is.

Having dealt out the cards, ask the party in which lot the card is.

Take up the lots successively, and place the lot containing the card in
the MIDDLE.

Deal out the cards again, and ask the party to state in which lot the
card is; and proceed as before, placing the lot containing the card in
the middle.

Deal out the cards in like manner a third time, proceeding as before.

Then deal them out as usual, and the eleventh card will be the one
thought of, infallibly. This is the usual way of showing the card
thought of; but, as the trick may be partly discovered by the counting,
it is better to hold the cards in your hand, and take out the eleventh
card, counting to yourself, of course, from the left hand, but
pretending to be considering the guess.

This is apparently a most mysterious trick, although a necessary
consequence of the position of the lot containing the card in the three
deals.

2. The four inseparable kings.

Take four kings. Beneath the last place any two cards, which you take
care to conceal. Then show the four kings and replace the six cards
under the pack.

Then take a king and place it in the top of the pack, place one of the
TWO OTHER CARDS in the middle, and the other about the same place, and
then, turning up the pack, show that