3. Curl the left forefinger on the face of the bottom card and with the right hand move the pack forward a little to enable the left thumb and little finger to grasp the upper packet firmly at the inner corners; release the left second and third fingers.
4. With the right thumb at the inner end, push the lower packet, below the break, a quarter of an inch outwards and press upwards with the left forefinger, supporting this packet and keeping it against the upper packet. This outward projection of the lower packet is hidden by the right second, third and fourth fingers.
5. Slide the right hand outward and grip the projecting end of the lower packet by curling the middle and top joints of the second, third and fourth fingers downwards and inwards.
6. Move the right hand directly to the right, carrying with it the lower packet, the inner end of which barely clears the left little finger at the inner right corner; there must be no outward motion of the right hand, Fig. 1. Immediately press the packet against the right palm with the last three fingers, concealing it with the back of the hand, and point with the forefinger to the packet in the left hand. Replace the second and third fingers of the left hand on the side of its packet.
7. Move the right hand over the left hand packet and deposit the palmed packet on it in the action of squaring the pack.
The sleight must be performed under cover of a movement to the left by both hands with the different moves taking place almost simultaneously.
CHAPTER 5. PALMING
THE BRAUE DIAGONAL TIP-UP PALM
This method is much the same as that of the one-hand top palm of a single card; the action is so subtle that it is impossible for an expert even to detect whether or not cards have been palmed.
1. Hold the pack in the left hand as for dealing, but with the thumb lying flat along its left side, the fleshy ball pressing against the corner and thus forcing a fold of flesh upon the top of the pack. The tip of the little finger holds a break under the cards to be palmed.
2. Place the right hand over the deck as if to square it, the fingers at the outer end, the thumb at the inner end.
3. Move the tip of the little finger, which presses against the face of the lowest card of the packet, upwards and to the right about half an inch, carrying the packet with it and causing it to pivot against the ball of the left thumb at the outer left corner, diagonally opposite. This action raises the inner ends of the cards to be palmed and places them diagonally across the remainder of the pack, Fig. 1.
4. Place the right thumb at B, pressing it against the pack proper, and press downwards at A with the tip of the right little finger, levering the packet up into the right palm.
5. The instant the cards are secured in the palm, run the fingers and thumb along the ends of the remaining cards, squaring them. Then seize the pack between the tips of the first finger and thumb at the outer right corners and hold it thus for a few moments before placing it on the table or disposing of it as may be necessary for the trick in hand. Be careful not to raise the right thumb at the moment the palm is made, a common fault in palming cards.
THE SWING PALM
This palm is very fast, easy of execution and indetectible.
1. Hold the pack in the left hand as for dealing, then move the thumb to the left side. Place the right hand over the pack, the fingers at the outer end and the thumb at the inner end.
2. Lift the cards to be palmed with the tip of the right little finger at the outer right corner of the pack.
3. Move the right fingers a quarter of an inch to the right, the little finger carrying its cards with it, the packet pivoting on the right thumb at the center of the inner end. Place the tip of the left forefinger against the extreme outer right corner of the packet directly under the tip of the right little finger.
4. Press the left forefinger and the right little finger together, clipping the corner of the packet to be palmed between these two finger tips, Fig. 1.
5. Straighten the left forefinger to the right, moving the little finger with it, thus moving the packet to the right and causing it to swing up against the right palm in perfect position for palming, Fig. 1. Twist the left wrist upwards and outwards to bring the remainder of the pack into view as much as possible.
6. Finally square the ends of the remaining cards with the right thumb and fingers and grip the pack by the right hand corners with the right hand.
Note that when the left little finger holds a break and it is desired to palm the cards above the finger, the break is allowed to move down to the outer right corner of the pack so that the right little finger can instantly secure the cards desired.
THE THUMB-COUNT PALM
This is a quick and easy method of securing any desired number of cards in the right hand. The procedure is as follows:
1. Hold the pack in the left hand vertically, face outwards, in position for the top thumb count (page 198), the left arm bent to bring the hand about opposite the second vest button.
2. With the left thumb count off the desired number of cards and slip its tip into the break.
3. Bring the right hand over the pack, the fingers at the outer end, the thumb at the inner end, and, under cover of a half turn to the left, palm the separated packet in the right hand, the left thumb aiding the action by pressing upwards, Fig. 1.
4. Immediately square the ends of the pack with the right thumb and fingers and then grip it between them at the right corners.
5. Square the sides of the deck with the left thumb and fingers, then remove the left hand, leaving the pack gripped between the right thumb and first finger at the extreme right corners.
The fact that the moment the back of the pack comes into view, the left thumb is seen pressing down on it, seems to preclude any possibility of palming.
FACE CARD PALM, RIGHT HAND
a. The purpose of this sleight is to provide a method of palming the face card of the deck in the right hand indetectibly.
1. Hold the pack face down in the right hand at the ends near the right corners between the first and second fingers and the thumb.
2. In the act of placing the pack in the left hand let the tip of the left forefinger press on the outer index of the face card, causing it to protrude on the right side of the deck, Fig. 1.
3. When the motion of the right hand has caused the card to be jogged about half an inch, curl the left second finger and press its tip on the face card about half an inch to the left of the first finger tip. Straighten this second finger causing the lower end of the face card to twist outwards and bringing it into the position most favorable for palming, Fig. 1.
4. Grasp the pack with the left hand and at the same moment palm the card in the right hand by slightly contracting the second, third and fourth fingers and the thumb, the forefinger remaining