table-napkins, each into a pad of five inches square. Take one of these
in each hand, the fingers undermost and the thumb uppermost. Then
inform the company that you are about to give them a lesson in the art
of hanky-panky, etc., and in the course of your remarks, bring down
the two napkins carelessly over the two raisins farthest from you.
Leave the right-hand napkin on the table, but, in withdrawing the hand,
bring away the raisin between the second and third fingers, and at the
same moment remarking, "You must watch particularly how many raisins
I place under each napkin." Lift the left napkin (as if merely to show
that there is one raisin only beneath it), and transfer it to the palm
of the outstretched right hand, behind which the raisin is now
concealed. Without any perceptible pause, but at the same time without
any appearance of haste, replace the folded napkin on raisin No. 2,
and in so doing, leave raisin No. 1 beside it. Now take up raisin No.
3 (with the right hand). Put the hand under the table, and in doing
so get raisin No. 3 between the second and third fingers, as much
behind the hand as possible. Give a rap with the knuckles on the
underside of the table, at the same time saying, "Pass!" and forthwith
pick up the left-hand napkin with the left hand, showing the raisins
1 and 2 beneath it. All eyes are drawn to the two raisins on the table,
and as the right hand comes into sight from beneath the table, the
left quietly transfers the napkin to it, thereby effectually concealing
the presence of raisin No. 3. The napkin is again laid over raisins
1 and 2, and No. 3 is secretly deposited with them. No. 4 is then taken
in the right hand, and the process repeated, when three raisins are
naturally discovered, the napkin being once more replaced, and No. 4
left with the rest. There are now four raisins under the left-hand
napkin, and none under that on the right hand, though the spectators
are persuaded that there is one under the latter, and only three under
the former. The trick being now practically over, the performer may