Invisible Transit

Effect:--Two cards, taken at random, change places at command.

Method:--You hand the deck to a spectator and ask him to shuffle the cards thoroughly. You take it back and, while squaring the cards, you separate the two top ones and push them a little sideways in readiness for the double lift. Remarking that you will use the top card, whatever it may be, you turn over two cards as one. Let us suppose that the card that shows is the ten of spades.

"That's a good card for the experiment," you say, as you turn it down and, apparently, lay it face down on the table, really you put down an indifferent card and the ten of spades remains on the top of the pack.

"Let us see what the next card is," you continue, as you square the deck and get ready for another double lift. Again you turn two cards as one, revealing, we will suppose, the six of diamonds. "Excellent. That card makes a fine contrast with the ten of spades. I'll put it over here." You turn the two cards down and, apparently, place the six of diamonds on the other side of the table, this time, of course, it is the ten of spades that you remove and the six of diamonds remains on the top of the pack.

"Remember," you say, "the six of diamonds here," you point to the card just placed down, "and the ten of spades here. I'll replace the ten in its original position on the top of the pack." You pick up the indifferent card first laid on the table, look at At, but be careful not to allow anyone else to get a glimpse of its face, and put it on the top of the pack.

It only remains for you now to order the cards to change places, then turn the two top cards as one, revealing the six of diamonds, and invite a spectator to turn over the card on the table, which proves to be the ten of spades.
The feat is not only effective in itself, but will afford excellent practice in the use of the double lift.