the second flag rolled up and placed in matchbox ready for production
from flame of candle. The ordinary egg can either be brought on openly
or magically produced. I prefer using one of the eggs I have previously
produced in the "four eggs at finger tips" trick.

_Modus Operandi._--Show the egg and wrap same in the double
handkerchief, taking care that the egg is placed in the slit; twist the
handkerchief round so as to show shape of the egg, and call attention
to the fact that the egg can be seen throughout the performance, and
lay same over chair back, egg towards audience. Show casket empty and
hand the tape to spectator, asking him to tie same round the casket,
the performer holding casket whilst it is being tied. It is now
suspended in the frame on stand (two small brass chains with hooks at
end being used for this purpose), and covered with borrowed
handkerchief. In the act of covering the casket, performer releases the
flap which drops down inside the casket, thus releasing the duplicate
flag previously placed therein. The candle is now lighted and the flag
produced from flame. While calling attention once more to the egg in
the handkerchief and to the empty (?) casket, the performer secures the
hollow egg from vest and proceeds to vanish the flag by working it into
the opening at the side of egg. When the flag is well tucked in, the
conjurer, without showing egg, explains what he is about to do--to
cause the egg to leave the handkerchief and appear in his hand, and the
flag to pass from his hand into the empty casket. _Presto!_ the hands
are opened, the egg is shown, and placed in a conspicuous position on
the table; the casket is uncovered and handed to spectator to untie the
tapes and remove the flag.

The performer now commences to introduce his _next_ trick, seemingly
forgetting about the handkerchief which is still hanging over chair
back, and of course the usual "smart" gentleman asks, "What about the
egg in the handkerchief?" Performer seems flurried, but otherwise takes
no notice of the remark, and pretends to be anxious to get on with his
next item. The audience insists that the egg is still in the
handkerchief, and performer then calls attention to the egg on the
table, which he asserts is the one he wrapped up in the handkerchief,
and "eggstracted" by magic. The audience do not believe it, so the
magician, with seeming reluctance, very gingerly picks up the
handkerchief from the chair and shakes same