These are, strictly speaking, only flower-pot cases, called in French
_cache-pots_. They may be of leather or cardboard, ornamented on the
outside, but plain black inside, their general appearance being as shown
in Fig. 4. They have neither top nor bottom, and when not in use, can be
opened out flat or rolled up as in Figs. 5 and 6, for greater portability.
[Illustration: FIG. 4]
[Illustration: FIG. 5]
[Illustration: FIG. 6]
The pair, when needed for use, are exhibited in the first instance as
one only, the one within the other. The professedly single pot, after
being proved empty by exhibiting the interior and passing the hand
through it, is made into two, by simply drawing out the inner one. The
duplication is not presented as a trick, the _modus operandi_ being
self-evident, but it has a pretty effect, and the exhibiting of the two
pots as one in the first instance admits of the presence, within the
outer one, of a secret pocket, open at top, as depicted in Fig. 7, but
folding down, when not in use, flat against its side.[2]
[Illustration: FIG. 7]
The main object of this pocket is to enable the performer to “vanish”
a card. The card to be got rid of is dropped ostensibly into the
flower-pot, or rather, the pot being bottomless, _through_ it on to the
table, where, when the pot is lifted, the spectators naturally expect
to see it. It has however disappeared, having in fact been dropped into
the pocket, where it remains concealed. Two, or even three cards may on
occasion be dealt with in the same way. By covering the pocket with the
fingers in the act of picking up the pot, the interior of the latter may
be freely shown after their disappearance.
The pocket, previously loaded accordingly (though the flower-pot is
shown, to all appearance, empty), may also be used for the production of
a card or cards.
[2] It is extremely difficult to construct the “pots” so that the pocket
is workable on the concave inner surface, but if they are made four,
five or six-sided the pocket folds against a flat surface and works
perfectly.--ED.