Page:New hocus pocus.pdf/18

18 cards, as clumsy fingers will not do. In showing tricks with cords, the principal point consists in shuffling them nimbly, and yet keeping one certain card either at the bottom or in some known place of the pack, four or five cards from the bottom; for by this you may seem to work wonders; since it is easy for you to see, or take notice of a card; which, though you are perceived to do, it it will not be suspected if you shuffle them well together afterwards, by the method here to be taught, which is this; in shuffling, let the bottom card be always kept a little before, or which is best, a little behind all the rest of the cards; put it a little beyond the rest before, right over your fore finger, or else, which is the best, a little behind the rest, so as the little finger of the left hand may slip up, and meet with it at first: shuffle as thick as you can, and at last throw upon the board the bottom card, with as many more as you would preserve for any purpose, a little before or a little behind the rest; and be sure to let your fore finger, (if the pack be laid before) or your little finger, (if the pack be laid behind) always creep up to meet with the bottom card, and when you feel it, you may there hold it, till you have shuffled over again, which being done, the card which was first at the bottom: will come there again; thus you may shuffle them before their faces, and yet leave your noted card at the