one king is still at the bottom.
Then let the cards be cut, and as three kings were left below, all must
necessarily get together somewhere about the middle of the pack. Of
course in placing the two other cards you pretend to be placing two
kings.

3. The barmaid and the three victimizers.

For this amusing trick you arrange the cards thus: Holding the pack in
your hands, find all the knaves, place one of them next to your left
hand, and the other three on the table. Then find a queen, which also
place on the table. Then say:--

'Three scamps went into a tavern, and ordered drink. Here they are--the
three knaves. "Who's to pay? I can't," said the first.

"I won't," said the second. "I wish she may get it," said the third.
"I'll manage it," said the first, the greatest rogue of the three. "I
say, my pretty girl, haven't you some very old wine in your cellar?"
Here's the barmaid thus addressed by the rogue in question (showing the
queen), and she replied:--"Oh yes, sir, prime old wine." "Let's have a
bottle." (Off went the barmaid. Put the queen in your pocket.) "Now for
it, my lads," said the knave in question; "'mizzle' is the word. Let's
be off in opposite directions, and meet to-night; you know where."
Hereupon they decamped, taking opposite directions, which I will
indicate by placing one on the top of the pack, one at the bottom, and
the other in the middle.

'When the poor barmaid returned (taking out the queen from your pocket)
with the wine, great was her astonishment to find the room empty. "Lor!"
she exclaimed, "why, I do declare--did you ever!--Oh! but I'm not agoing
to be sarved so. I'll catch the rogues, all of them--that I will." And
off she went after them, as shown by placing her ON, or at any rate,
AFTER the first.

'Now, to catch the three seemed impossible; but the ladies have always
smiled at impossibilities, and wonders never cease; for, if you have the
goodness to cut these cards, you will find that she HAS caught the three
rogues.'

When the cards are cut, proceed in the USUAL WAY after cutting--NOT as
required in the last trick; and taking up the cards, you will find the
queen and three knaves together, which you take out and exhibit to the
astonished audience.

Of course, one of these knaves is not one of the three first exhibited,
but the one which you slipped on your left hand at first. There is no
chance of detection, however; simply for the reason before given--nobody
suspects the