EFFECT AND PRESENTATION
“Fortune telling used to be a matter of instinct and luck” says the magician as the cards are shuffled, “but nowadays we have made it an exact science.”
“We have both shuffled; that has established a sympathy between the cards, and your subconscious, and mine. But now I must tune the pack to your conscious character; so I shall have to ask you some character-revealing questions, and I shall record your answers with the cards.”
“First: Do you like yoghurt? No? If you had said ‘yes’ I would have placed these cards in a pile on the table; but as you said ‘No’, I won’t. Please remember, everyone, that he doesn’t like yoghurt.”
“Next, do you sing in your bath? Yes? That’s very significant, you know, singing in your bath. As you said ‘yes’, these cards go on the table.”
“Now – have you stopped beating your wife? No hesitation please – answer ‘yes’ or ‘no’. Yes? I’m glad to hear it. These cards go on the table.”
“Last question – do you think this trick is going to work? You can be completely frank – I won’t be offended. No? Oh, dear. But as you said ‘no’, no cards go on the table.”
“The next step in telling your fortune is to find your lucky number. For this, I want you to deal through the cards we have been using, and at the same time I shall deal through this special fortune telling pack which, so far, has not been touched. If some card comes out at the same number in both packs, that will be your lucky number.”
“One - two - three - ................. twenty - twenty-one, the KING OF CLUBS in both packs. Twenty-one is your lucky number.”
Here the magician turns to another spectator, and hands him a small book.
“Will you help us? Just turn to number 21 in this BOOK OF FORTUNES, and read out what you find.”
The spectator opens the book and reads – “YOU MAY STILL BE A SUCCESS IN LIFE. NAPOLEON DIDN’T LIKE YOGHURT EITHER. BUT AGAIN LIKE YOU, HE DID SING IN THE BATH. SO PERHAPS YOU ALSO WILL MEET YOUR WATERLOO. YOU DO NOT GET ENOUGH EXERCISE. THIS MAY BE BECAUSE YOU HAVE STOPPED BEATING YOUR WIFE. YOUR LUCKY CARD IS THE KING OF CLUBS. BUT YOU WERE UNLUCKY WHEN YOU SAID THIS TRICK WOULDN’T WORK!”
CONDITION NOTES: The instructions show some age toning, folds, and staple wear, but the fortune book itself is very clean and presentable.