After the thirty-two cards have been shuffled and cut with the left hand, the first eleven are withdrawn from the pack and laid on one side. The remainder—twenty-one in all—are to be again shuffled and cut, that being done, the topmost card is laid on one side to form "the surprise," and the remaining twenty are ranged before the dealer in the order in which they come to hand. If the card representing the person consulting be not among them, one must be withdrawn from the eleven useless ones placed at the right extremity of the row, where it represents the missing card, no matter what it may really be. Let us suppose that the person wishing to make the essay is an officer in the army, and consequently represented by the king of diamonds, and that the twenty cards ranged in front of you are: Queen of diamonds, king of clubs, ten of hearts, ace of spades, queen of hearts reversed, seven of spades, jack of diamonds, ten of clubs, king of spades, eight of diamonds, king of hearts, nine of clubs, jack of spades reversed, seven of hearts, ten of spades, king of diamonds, ace of diamonds, seven of clubs, nine of hearts, ace of clubs. You now proceed to examine the cards as they lay, and perceiving that all the four kings are there, you can predict that great rewards await the person consulting you, and that he will gain great dignity and honor. The two queens, one of them reversed, announce the reunion of two sorrowful friends; the three aces, foretell good news; the two jacks, one of them reversed, danger; the three tens, improper conduct.

You now begin to explain the cards, commencing with the first on the left hand: "The queen of diamonds is a mischief-making, under-bred woman—the king of clubs—endeavoring to win the affections of a worthy and estimable man—ten of hearts—over whose scruples she will triumph—ace of spades—the affair will make some noise—queen of hearts reversed—and greatly distress a charming fair woman who loves him—seven of spades—but her grief will not be of long duration. Jack of diamonds—an unfaithful servant—ten of clubs—will make away with a considerable sum of money—king of spades—and will be brought to trial—eight of diamonds—but saved from punishment through a woman's agency. King of hearts—a fair man of liberal disposition—nine of clubs—will receive a large sum of money—jack of spades reversed—which will expose him to the malice of a dark youth of coarse manners. Seven of hearts—pleasant thoughts, followed by—ten of spades—great chagrin—king of diamonds—await a man in uniform, who is the person consulting me—ace of diamonds—but a letter he will speedily receive—seven of clubs—containing a small sum of money—nine of hearts—will restore his good spirits—ace of clubs—which will be further augmented by some good news." Now turn up "the surprise" which it is supposed will prove the ace of hearts, "a card that is taken to predict great happiness, caused by a love letter, but which, making up the four aces, is said to show that this sudden joy will be followed by great misfortunes."

The cards are now gathered up, shuffled, cut, and formed into three packs, at the first deal one being laid aside to form "the surprise." By the time they are all dealt out it will be found that the two first packets are each composed of seven cards, whilst the third contains only six. The person consulting is desired to select one of these, which is taken up and spread out from left to right, being explained as before described. The cards are again gathered up, shuffled, cut, formed into three packs, one card being dealt to "the surprise," and then proceeding as before. The whole operation is once more repeated, then the three cards forming "the surprise" are taken up and their interpretation given.

No matter how the cards are dealt, whether by threes, fives, sevens, fifteens or twenty-one, when those lower than the jack predominate it is considered to foretell success. If clubs are the most numerous, they are supposed to predict gain, considerable fortune, etc. If picture cards, dignity and honor; hearts, gladness, good news; spades, death or sickness.