Daily Snapper_, determined to be none the less sensational,
began thus:

MYSTERIES NO LONGER!
"THE BRASS COFFIN TRICK" AND "EVE AT THE WINDOW" DONE AT LAST!
MARTIN AND DAVENPORT LOSE THEIR PRESTIGE

This was bad enough, but the _Planet_ published a paragraph that was
even more galling, viz.--

"Now that Messrs. Martin and Davenport's great Illusions have been
explained and their Hall in Kingsway, so long famous as the Home
of Puzzledom, of necessity shorn of its glamour, one need not be
surprised if those who delight in this kind of mystery, should
turn elsewhere for their amusement. The British Public, which is
above all things enamoured of novelty, will, doubtless, now resort
to the Modern Sorcery Company, whose House in Cockspur Street bids
fair to become the future home of everything uncanny. Their
programme--to the uninitiated--presents possibilities--and
impossibilities."

So said the _Planet_, and as the number of attendances at Martin and
Davenports' fell from 820 on the night of the challenge to 89 on the
succeeding night, whilst the Modern Sorcery Company's Hall was filled
to overflowing, there was every prospect of its prediction being
verified. The solution of Martin and Davenports' tricks had taken
place (Hamar had so planned it) on the last night the trio possessed
the property of divination, and, consequently, on the night that
terminated the first stage of their compact. The following night they
would be in possession of new powers, such powers as would warrant
them giving a gratis exhibition--an exhibition of jugglery absolutely
new and unprecedented. That the exhibition was successful may be
gathered from the following article in the _Daily Cyclone_--

"MARVELLOUS DISPLAY OF PSYCHIC PHENOMENA IN COCKSPUR STREET.

"The Modern Sorcery Company Ltd., in their new premises in
Cockspur Street, gave the most remarkable display of Phenomena it
has ever yet fallen to our lot to report. Indeed, the performances
were of such an extraordinary nature that the huge audience, _en
masse_, was scared; not a few people fainted, whilst every now and
again were heard screams of terror intermingled with long
protracted 'Ohs!'"

A brief _resume_ of the entertainment ran as follows:--The first part
of the Modern Sorcery Company's programme was carried out by Mr. Leon
Hamar, solus, who, stepping to the front of the stage, announced th