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Modern Magic: A Practical Treatise on the Art of Conjuring
·
Professor Hoffmann
112
In
its
primary
form,
the
trick
is
only
an
illustration
of
the
well-known
fact
that
the
hand
can
move
quicker
than
the
eye
can
follow.
It
is
performed
with
three
cards--a
court
card
and
two
plain
cards.
The
operator
holds
them,
face
downwards,
one
between
the
second
finger
and
thumb
of
the
left
hand,
and
the
other
two
(of
which
the
court
card
is
one)
one
between
the
first
finger
and
thumb,
and
the
other
between
the
second
finger
and
thumb
of
the
right
hand,
the
latter
being
the
outermost.
Bringing
the
hands
quickly
together
and
then
quickly
apart,
he
drops
the
three
cards
in
succession,
and
challenges
the
bystanders
to
say
which
is
the
court
card.
If
the
movement
is
quickly
made,
it
is
almost
impossible,
even
for
the
keenest
eye,
to
decide
with
certainty
whether
the
upper
or
lower
card
falls
first
from
the
hand,
and
consequently
which
of
the
three
cards,
as
they
lie,
is
the
court
card.
This
is
the
whole
of
the
trick,
if
fairly
performed,
and
so
far
it
would
be
a
fair
subject
for
betting,
though
the
chances
would
be
much
against
the
person
guessing;
but
another
element
is
introduced
by
the
swindling
fraternity,
which
ensures
the
discomfiture
of
the
unwary
speculator.
The
operator
is
aided
by
three
or
four
confederates,
or
“bonnets,”
whose
business
it
is
to
start
the
betting,
and
who,
of
course,
are
allowed
to
win.
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