1. A SIMPLE PASS
It is the custom nowadays, when you wish to have a chosen card returned to the deck, to place the pack on the left hand, cut off about half the cards with the right hand, hold out the left-hand packet for the chosen card to be placed on top, then put the right-hand packet on top of all. At the same time you slip the tip of the left little finger between the two packets—a process which must cause the old masters to turn in their graves. Far more artistic is it to spread the pack fan-wise for the return of the chosen card and then slip the tip of the little finger above it in closing the fan.
Again you may hold the pack in the right hand over the left and drop several packets from the bottom onto the left hand, one after the other, as you invite the spectator to replace his card somewhere in the deck. When about half the cards have been dropped, stretch out the left hand to him, have the card replaced, and then put the right-hand packet on top of all—slipping the tip of the little finger between the packets.
Now, to control the card and bring it to the top, first press the outer ends of the cards tightly together so that there is no sign of any break, then bend the outer end of the pack upwards and let the cards escape from the end of the second finger singly but rapidly; this is known as ruffling the cards. Take hold of the top packet between the right thumb at the inner end and all four fingers, close together, at the outer end; make a quick, sharp remark to the spectator—such as, “You are sure you will know your card again?”—to draw his eyes to yours; and immediately, without looking at your hands, lift the top packet with the right hand, drop the left thumb under the lower packet, turn it face up against the curved left fingers (Fig. 10), and instantly begin shuffling the right-hand packet onto the other cards. At the end of the shuffle turn the pack face down in the left hand. The chosen card is on the top.
Do not be deceived by the simplicity of the action. The sleight is used by many of the best card magicians just as described.
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