Counting fifteen cards onto the hand of a spectator, the conjuror asks him to recount them, to verify the number. To prevent mistakes, the conjuror again counts on the spectator’s hand, requesting that two cards be handed to him from the pile. They are vanished and reappear among the spectator’s cards which are counted once more. This effect is repeated, and finally the fifteen are vanished and found in the helper’s pocket !

It is all in the count, so to speak. To commence, at a suitable time slip fifteen cards into somebody’s outside coat pocket. This is comparatively easy at a get-together. Then pick upon this person to assist, and tell him you intend to give him fifteen cards, and ask him to hold out his hand palm up. Count the cards one at a time onto his hand, counting as follows “Fifteen, fourteen, thirteen, twelve, eleven, ten, nine, eight, and 2 are ten, and 2 are twelve, and 3 are fifteen.” On these last three counts, you drop 2 cards, 2 cards, and 3 cards respectively. There will be smiles at this novel bit of counting, but you ask him to verify by recounting one at a time in the orthodox manner, onto your left hand. This he does, and there really are fifteen.

At this point, your right hand is in your trouser pocket where, beforehand, you have put four cards. Palm two of them now, while the spectator is counting onto your hand, and when he has finished, add them to the pile on your left hand. Say to him “I see you are suspicious, sir, so I will count them again. Fifteen, fourteen, thirteen, twelve, eleven, ten, nine, eight, seven, and 3 are ten, and 2 are twelve, and 3 are fifteen.” The spectator now actually holds 17 cards, and you ask him to give you two of them. These are vanished in a suitable manner. I usually pick up the remainder of the pack on the table, fan them out in the right hand, hold the two cards to be vanished in left hand, and in a downward sweep of the fan, steal the two cards, the left hand turning with back outward, and a bit of fanning is done and the hand shown empty, the deck being laid aside again.

Say “Now the two cards have returned to your cards.” He counts them one at a time onto your left hand and there are fifteen. While he is counting this time, again palm out two cards from your right trouser pocket, and add to the counted pile. Again you count to him “Fifteen, fourteen, thirteen, twelve, eleven, ten, nine, eight, seven, and 3 are ten, and two are twelve, and three are fifteen.” Ask him for two cards and vanish them as you did the first time, or in a different manner, as you choose. He confirms the fact that the cards have returned to his packet by counting them for the last time, and finding fifteen. Finally you take the fifteen cards off his hand and vanish them, saying “The cards are very fond of you, sir, even though you have continually doubted them. No doubt that fondness has resulted in their returning to you.” He looks through his pockets and finds the 15 cards you have previously loaded there.