1. THE MAGIC BREATH
Invite a spectator to shuffle the deck and remove any card he pleases. Take the pack back and, after he has noted his card, begin a Hindu shuffle (see page 285); have the card replaced and control it in the usual way, bringing it to the top of the deck. Execute an overhand shuffle, sending the chosen card to the bottom of the deck and bringing it back to the top.
Address the spectator, “With your permission I propose to try a little scientific experiment with you. Some people have what is called a magic breath, and, with the help of the cards, I am going to find out if you are one of them. I’m afraid you are not one of the chosen. However, I may be mistaken; we’ll soon see. Now I want you to think of a number—say up to fifteen, as we don’t want to take up too much time. You have thought of one? Very good. Now fix your thoughts intently on that number; concentrate on it firmly. Ready? Now just breathe on the cards. Thank you. If you have a magic breath, it will have sent your card to that very number you thought of from the top of the deck. What was your number? Thirteen? Let us see if your breath is magical. I am a little doubtful about it myself.”
Deal twelve cards face down on the table in a pile and take the thirteenth card in your right hand face down. “Now the result.” Turn the card face up. “Is that your card? No? Well, you know I told you I was afraid that you are not endowed with a magic breath.” Push the card in amongst the twelve cards dealt off the pack, lift the whole packet, and replace the cards on top of the rest of the deck. Do this very openly, so that there can be no suspicion of any secret maneuvers.
Continue, “Remember, you chose a card freely, returned it to the pack, and the cards have been thoroughly shuffled. I have not even touched your card, and I don’t know what card it is or where it is in the deck. However, that creates no difficulty for me, because I have a magic breath. See, I merely breathe gently on the cards—just a zephyr so to speak. Will you take the cards in your own hands and test the result for yourself? What number did you say? Thirteen? Very well; deal twelve cards on the table face down.”
This done, you continue, “What was your card? The . . . of . . . Turn up the next card—the thirteenth—and there it is, you see. I think that, perhaps, instead of thinking while blowing you blew while thinking, a very different thing. Try it again at home some time.”
The elements of the trick are very simple. The chosen card, being at the top of the pack for the first count, naturally becomes the thirteenth, or whatever other number may be chosen, when the counted cards are replaced on the others. Disguised by the plot and the patter, it becomes quite a striking experiment.
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