The Demon Envelope The performer enters, bearing a large envelope in one hand and a complete pack of cards in the other. Placing the envelope against a candlestick, or some piece of apparatus on the table so that it remains in full view during the course of the trick, the performer proceeds to shuffle the cards. Seizing an ornamental dagger or paper knife, the performer goes among the company and, handing a spectator the dagger, requests them to insert it anywhere in the pack. The performer takes off all the cards above the knife and asks the spectator to take the topmost card of the lower heap (on which the knife now rests), cautioning the spectator to remove the card so that the performer cannot obtain a glimpse of its face. In a similar manner, six more cards are selected at random by different spectators, each one retaining the card in their possession. Remaining away from the company, the performer calls for the assistant, who is told to hand the envelope to some prominent spectator to open it. Doing so, the spectator discovers in it another envelope, on the outside of which is written the name of the card selected by the first spectator, who is requested to hold up their card so that everyone can see that both the card and the name on the envelope correspond. The next envelope is opened, and inside of it is found a third one, bearing the name of the second card chosen. The trick proceeds in this manner, the spectator discovering as many envelopes, one inside of another, as there were cards selected, with each envelope bearing the correct name of a drawn card. The solution of this mysterious and effective trick is very simple indeed. In the first place, it is necessary that the performer and the assistant should have memorized some simple code of Second Sight, consisting of seventeen different cues, thirteen of them representing the different values of the cards and four the suits. The pack of cards that is used is prearranged; the shuffle to which it is subjected being a false one. The envelope placed by the performer upon the table is really empty. The set of envelopes opened later on by the spectators is really in possession of the assistant behind the scenes. After the first spectator has inserted the dagger in the pack, the performer, as will be remembered, takes off all the cards above the dagger. By glancing at the lowest card of this heap, thanks to the formula the performer can instantly tell the name of the card that has been taken. In inviting the second spectator to insert the dagger anywhere in the pack, the request is worded in such a way as to bring into play the cue for the name of the first card selected. The assistant, who is listening to the performer, thus finds out the name of the selected card. For the different cues, such simple short phrases as "Now," "Please," "If you please," "Kindly," etc., will be found to be the most serviceable. The exact arrangement I leave to the ingenuity of my reader, who no doubt can easily invent a brief system nicely adapted to his or her own style. By this means the performer communicates all the names of the selected cards to the assistant, who writes them separately on the outsides of the envelopes. Quickly enclosing them in one another, the assistant places them into a still larger envelope that is then concealed somehow in their clothes. Mean time the performer has given the assistant time to do all this by stating what has taken place, and how utterly impossible it would be for anyone to know the names of the card selected in such a fair manner. Calling for the assistant, the latter steps forward and is told to take the envelope from the table and to hand it to someone in the audience, whom the performer asks the audience to select. While this is being done, the assistant turns about to pick up the envelope, at the same time obtaining possession of the one already concealed. The assistant secretly places it on top of the one on the table and, picking up both, secretly hides the empty envelope in their clothes and turns around with the nest of envelopes in their hand, bringing it to the person the spectators have decided upon. Obviously the assistant must be quick and clever enough to change the envelopes without being detected in the act! The trick, which is now practically done, is then brought to the conclusion described. If presented with the necessary amount of address, it will not fail to bring the performer a hearty round of applause. Home | Card Tricks | Card Trick Skills | The Pass | The Force | Changes False Shuffling | The Glimpse | Card Palm | Card Sleights Copyright © 2003-2006 HowToDoCardTricks.com. All rights reserved worldwide.   You can quickly get a copy of every trick on this web site in a downloadable PDF book. That's over 40 classic card tricks to amaze and astound your friends, all stored on your computer to refer to at any time! Just click the link below to get your own copy today for just $5.