Modern Magic: A Practical Treatise on the Art of Conjuring

If the performer is a good actor, he may here make some fun by pretending to believe that the victim has concealed the glass, and pressing him to return it. At last he says, “Well, if you won’t give it to me, I must find it for myself,” and he proceeds to tap with his wand the sleeves and pockets of the unfortunate individual, but without success, till, on touching him between the shoulders, he pretends to tell by the sound that the glass is there. “Yes, here it is,” he remarks. “I am sorry to be obliged to ask you to turn your back on the company, but to show them that there is no deception on my part, I am compelled to do so. Will you please turn round for one minute.” On his doing so, the performer, again shaking out the handkerchief, and showing both sides of it to prove it empty, spreads it over the back of the victim. Again he taps with his wand, which, striking the ring through the handkerchief, causes an unmistakeable hard sound to be heard; and then grasping the ring as before through the handkerchief, he deliberately raises it up in a horizontal position, the effect being as if the glass had again returned to the handkerchief. He then says, “I don’t think I will trouble this gentleman again; he is too much of a conjuror himself;” then turning rapidly to the audience, he says, “Catch, ladies and gentlemen,” and “flicks” the handkerchief quickly towards the spectators, who duck their heads in expectation of a shower. “Pardon me, ladies, I fear I alarmed you; but you need not have been afraid; I never miss my aim. That gentleman has the glass” (designating anyone he pleases). “May I trouble you to step forward one moment, sir?” On the person indicated doing so, the performer places him facing the audience, and under cover of his body takes the second glass out of the profonde, and throws the handkerchief over it, remarking, “Yes, ladies and gentlemen, here it is, in this gentleman’s tail pocket.” Then taking hold of the glass with the left hand beneath the handkerchief, he clips with the first finger and thumb, through the handkerchief, the edge of the india-rubber cover, and thus drawing off the cover inside the handkerchief, hands round the glass and water for inspection.