Modern Magic: A Practical Treatise on the Art of Conjuring

You must have these cards close at hand, in such a position as to enable you to add them instantly, and without attracting observation, to the pack you have been using. If you use the regular conjuror’s table, before described, you may place your pack of aces on the servante. If you do not use such a table, you may place them in one of your pochettes. In either case, you will have little difficulty in reaching them at the right moment, and placing them on the top of the ordinary pack, holding the whole in your left hand, but keeping the little finger between. Having done this, you say to the person who has been assisting you (in continuation of the trick you have just performed), “You appear to be fond of aces, sir. How many would you like?” He is fully convinced, having previously examined the pack, that you have only the ordinary four but, from a desire to put your powers to an extreme test, he may possibly name a larger number--say, seven. “Seven!” you reply; “that is rather unreasonable, seeing there are only four in the pack. However, we will make some more. Do you know how to make aces? No? Then I will show you. Like all these things, it’s simplicity itself, when you once know it. Will you oblige me by blowing upon the pack?” which you hold just under his nose for that purpose.