If you have one of the P&L metal card boxes sitting around, this makes an excellent effect as an after dinner or parlor trick. Any card box that locks though, can be used. In short, the spectator writes the name of some dead person on a small card which you give them, and it is placed writing side down and covered with a Queen from the deck. You then put the Queen to your ear, leaving the card with the dead name on the table, but she says nothing. You try again, but still no result. Then, with the remark that perhaps she needs a little solitude, you drop the Queen in the box, close, open and listen again. Still no result. You now ask the spectator to put the written card under the Queen himself. This time you listen and correctly reveal the dead name, and the spectator can examine all.
The piece of pasteboard upon which the spectator writes is a blank visiting card cut to about 2″x5/8″ in size. Make two of these and have one covered on one side with the back of a card to match the deck in use, although this isn’t necessary. Have a deck handy with a Queen on the face, and underneath this Queen at one end, have the piece of card. In the regular part of the card box have a duplicate of this Queen face up and have the box open at the trick compartment.
Start by handing the spectator a piece of card upon which he writes the name. Either take it from him face down and place it at the table edge, overlapping a little, or slide it there after he has put it down. Mention that the Queen of Hearts is the only card that can talk to you, at the same time taking it from the deck with the duplicate piece of card underneath. Put the Queen face up over the card on the table, so that the piece held underneath is right by the side of it. Wait a moment, and then raise the Queen facing the spectator, but pick up the name card with it and glimpse it, as you say you’ll listen to the Queen. Hold it to your ear, shake your head, put the Queen back on the card on the table. Wait a moment, lift the Queen again but take the dummy card this time leaving the original card on the table. Listen again and shake your head. Mention solitude for Her Highness and drop her face up in the card box. Close the lid which locks compartment. Open the lid (which reveals the other Queen which is apparently the same one, listen, but still you have no result. Now hand the box to a spectator who puts the written on card underneath. Now you hold the box to your ear, reveal the name, and hand the box back.
Editor’s notes: I don’t do much of this type of trick but was interested enough to try this one out and was surprised at the result. It is really quite good and the by-play up to the finish seemed to build it. That was what I was skeptical about. I also tried it without duplicate cards or cardbox. Using the right coat pocket for the solitude part, I put the Queen in but after dropping the Queen, I dropped the dummy card in the small match or coin pocket at the top of the pocket. Then I had the spectator drop the writing card in with the Queen. He also took the Queen out, I listened and revealed the name. Then he reached in and took the name card out. It makes a nice and practically impromptu table trick that way.
Leave a Reply