Page:Hocus pocus, or, The whole art of legerdemain in perfection (1).pdf/17

 knife upon the uppermost part of the whale-bone with the point upwards: say some words of art, as Presto vet, or Omporte.

Noted, I have invented a new instrument to perform this fancy, which is to be admired by all ingenious persons.

To tell or name all the Cards in the Pack, and yet never see them.

To do this, you must first privately drop a drop of water or beer, about the bigness of a twopence, upon the table before you, where you sit, then rest your elbows upon the table so as the cuffs of your sleeves may meet, and your hand stick up to the brim of your hat; in this posture your arms will hide the drop of water from the company; then let any oue take the cards and shuffle them, and put them into your hands; also let them set a candle before you, for this trick is best done in candle light; then holding rhethe [sic] cards in your left hand, above the brim of your hat, up close to your head, so as the light of the candle may shine upon the cards, and holding your head down; so in the drop of water, like a looking-glass, you shall see the shadow of all the cards before you: draw then the fingers of your right hand along upon the cards, as though you felt the spots, name the card, and then lay him down. Thus you may lay down all the cards in the pack, one by one, nameing them before you lay them down, which will seem very strange to the be holders, who will think that you have felt them out.