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Modern Magic: A Practical Treatise on the Art of Conjuring
·
Professor Hoffmann
128
THE
PACK
BEING
DIVIDED
INTO
TWO
PORTIONS,
PLACED
IN
THE
KEEPING
OF
TWO
DIFFERENT
PERSONS,
TO
MAKE
THREE
CARDS
PASS
INVISIBLY
FROM
THE
ONE
TO
THE
OTHER.--This
trick
is
identical
in
principle
with
the
one
last
described,
but
the
mise
en
scène
is
more
elaborate,
and
several
circumstances
concur
to
give
it
a
surprising
effect.
It
was
a
special
favourite
with
the
late
M.
Robert-Houdin,
and
we
shall
proceed
to
describe
it
as
nearly
as
possible
in
the
form
in
which
it
was
presented
by
him.
The
performer
brings
forward
a
pack
of
cards,
still
in
the
official
envelope.
These
he
hands
to
a
spectator,
with
a
request
that
he
will
open
and
count
them.
He
does
so,
and
finds
that
they
have
the
full
complement
(of
thirty-two
or
fifty-two,
as
the
case
may
be).
He
is
next
requested
to
cut
the
pack
into
two
portions,
pretty
nearly
equal,
and
to
choose
one
of
the
packets.
Having
made
his
selection,
he
is
further
asked
to
count
the
cards
in
the
packet
chosen.
The
general
attention
being,
meanwhile,
drawn
away
from
the
performer,
he
has
ample
opportunity
to
get
ready
in
his
right
hand,
duly
palmed,
three
cards
of
another
pack,
but
of
similar
pattern
to
those
of
the
pack
in
use.
(These
may
previously
be
placed
either
on
the
servante
or
in
the
performer’s
right-hand
pochette;
or
he
may,
if
he
prefers
it,
have
them
ready
palmed
in
his
right
hand
when
he
comes
upon
the
stage
to
commence
the
trick.)
The
spectator,
having
duly
counted
the
chosen
pack,
declares
it
to
consist,
say,
of
seventeen
cards.
“A
capital
number
for
the
trick,”
remarks
the
performer.
“Now,
sir,
will
you
be
kind
enough
to
take
these
seventeen
cards
in
your
own
hands”
(here
he
pushes
them
carelessly
towards
him,
and
joins
the
three
palmed
cards
to
them),
“and
hold
them
well
up
above
your
head,
that
every
one
may
see
them.
Thank
you.
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