Modern Magic: A Practical Treatise on the Art of Conjuring

Then taking the aces one by one (without showing them) you place them face downwards on the table. Addressing the person assisting you, you say, “I place these four aces on the table. You admit that they are the four aces.” Your victim, not having seen the faces of the cards since they were replaced on the pack, and having noticed the slight sound produced by your ruffling the cards, will, in all probability, say that he does not admit anything of the sort. “Why,” you reply, “you have only just seen them; but I’ll show them to you again, if you like.” Turning them face upwards, you show that the four cards really are the aces, and again replace them on the pack, ruffle the cards, and deal out the four aces face downwards as before. You again ask your assistant whether he is certain this time that the four cards on the table are the aces. He may possibly be still incredulous, but if he professes himself satisfied, you ask him what he will bet that these cards are really the aces, and that you have not conjured them away already. He will naturally be afraid to bet, and you remark, “Ah, I could tell by the expression of your countenance that you were not quite satisfied.