Modern Magic: A Practical Treatise on the Art of Conjuring

the four asterisks representing any four indifferent cards. This special arrangement is, of course, unknown to the audience. You now offer to leave the room, and invite the audience, during your absence, to remove any number of the cards (not exceeding ten) from the right hand end of the row, and place them, in the same order, at the other end of the row. On your return, you have only to turn up the eleventh card, counting from the beginning or left hand end, which will indicate by its points the number of cards removed. A few examples will illustrate this fact. Thus, suppose that two cards only have been removed from the right to the left hand end, the row thus altered will be as follows:-- *, *, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, [2], 1, 0, *, *. The eleventh card from the left will be a two, being the number moved. Suppose that seven cards have been removed, the new arrangement will be-- 2, 1, 0, *, *, *, *, 10, 9, 8, [7], 6, 5, 4, 3, and the card in the eleventh place will be a seven. Suppose the audience avail themselves of your permission to the fullest extent, and remove ten cards, the same result follows. 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 0, *, *, *, *, [10], 9, 8, 7, 6. If no card is moved, the 0 will remain the eleventh card, as it was at first. If you repeat the trick a second time, you must replace the cards moved in their original positions. Do not, if you can possibly help it, allow the audience to perceive that you count the cards.