After the cards have been well shuffled and cut, they are dealt out in two packs containing sixteen cards in each. The person consulting is desired to choose one of them; the first card is laid aside to form "the surprise," the other fifteen are turned up and ranged in a half circle before the dealer, going from left to right, being placed in the order in which they come to hand. If the card representing the person consulting be not among them the cards must be all gathered up, shuffled, cut, and dealt as before, and this must be repeated till the missing card makes its appearance in the pack chosen by the person it represents. They are explained, first, by interpreting the meaning of any pairs, triplets, or quartettes among them; then by counting them in sevens, going from right to left, and beginning with the card representing the person consulting, and lastly, by taking the cards at either extremity of the line, and pairing them. This being done, the fifteen cards are gathered up, shuffled, cut, and dealt so as to form three packs of five cards each. From each of these the topmost card is withdrawn and placed on the one laid aside for "the surprise," thus forming four packs of four cards each.

The person consulting is desired to choose one of these packs for herself or for himself as the case may be. This is turned up, and the four cards it contains are spread out from left to right, the individual and relative signification ascribed to them being duly explained. In like manner the pack on the left, which will be "for the house," is used; then the third one, "for those who do not expect it;" and lastly, "the surprise."

In order to make the meaning perfectly clear another example is given. It is supposed that the pack for the person consulting consists of the jack of hearts, the ace of diamonds, the queen of clubs and the eight of spades reversed.

It will be easy to interpret them as follows: "The jack of hearts—a gay young bachelor—the ace of diamonds—who has written, or who will very soon write a letter—the queen of clubs—to a dark woman—eight of spades reversed—to make proposals to her, which will not be accepted." On looking back to the list of significations, it will be found to run thus:

It will thus be seen that each card forms, as it were, a phrase, from an assemblage of which nothing but a little practice is required to form complete sentences. Of this a further example will be given by interpreting the signification of the three other packs.

"For the house" is supposed to consist of the queen of hearts, the jack of spades reversed, the ace of clubs and the nine of diamonds, which are supposed to read thus: "The queen of hearts—a fair woman, mild and amiable in disposition—jack of spades reversed—will be deceived by a dark, ill bred young man—the ace of clubs—but she will receive some good news, which will console her—nine of diamonds—although it is probable that this news may be delayed."

The pack "for those who do not expect it," consists of the queen of diamonds, the king of spades, the ace of hearts reversed, and the seven of spades: "The queen of diamonds—a mischief-making woman—the king of spades—in league with a dishonest lawyer—-ace of hearts reversed—they will hold a consultation—seven of spades—but the harm they will do will soon be repaired."

Last comes "the surprise," formed by, it is supposed, the jack of clubs, the ten of diamonds, the queen of spades and the nine of spades, of which the supposed interpretation is: "The jack of clubs—a clever, enterprising young man—ten of diamonds—about to undertake a journey—queen of spades—for the purpose of visiting a widow—nine of spades—but one or both their lives will be endangered."