form a series of
wonderful and unaccountable tricks, which no one had ever equalled, or
was ever likely to equal while the world lasted; on which the clown
clapped his hands and nodded his head in approval, exclaiming, in the
oddest squeaking voice imaginable, "Certainly, certainly; my master
speaks the truth; who can doubt him? If anybody does doubt him, let him
take care of me."

The conjuror hemmed, and, waving his wand, took up a pile of halfpence.
"Now, ladies and gentlemen, you see these halfpence, and you see this
cap. The cap I will place on the table, and taking the halfpence in my
left hand, as you see, I will pass them from under the table into the
cap. Heigh, presto, fly!" Sure enough, he lifted up the cap, and there
were the halfpence. "Now I will pass them back again into my hand--
listen." One after the other they were heard dropping into his hand,
and when the cap was lifted they were gone. Then he put a die on the
table, and covering it with his cap, sent the halfpence back to take its
place. There they were. He covered them up; they had disappeared, and
the die took their place.

He next produced a round tea-caddy. He asked a lady for a cambric
handkerchief. Several were tendered. He took one, and put it into the
caddy. Drawing out one end, while examining it by a candle to observe
its texture, it caught fire. It had burnt a good deal before he could
find the cover to put it out. No sooner had he done so than,
pronouncing a few magic words, he opened the canister, and presented the
handkerchief uninjured. Loud applause followed. "Now, ladies and
gentlemen," he said, holding up a large silk pocket-handkerchief,
"examine this handkerchief. It has no double lining. It is a plain
simple handkerchief. Watch me narrowly. I throw it over the table. I
hold it up. See what comes forth." A whole stream of filberts fell
from the handkerchief. "Here, Placolett, take them to the company,"
said the magician, and the round-faced dwarf, with many odd twists and
bounds, handed them round. Again the magician spread the handkerchief,
and this time produced a still larger quantity of sugar-plums,
sufficient, it seemed, to fill a hat. They also were handed round.
Once more the handkerchief was spread, and produced a number of bouquets
of beautiful flowers, some real and some artificial. These in like
manner were distributed among the young ladies present.

"Will any lady lend me a plain gold