3. Three hollow wooden dice, each of such a size as just to contain one
of the balls, and lined inside with velvet to prevent “talking.” One side
of each is left open, but the opening can be closed at pleasure by the
insertion of a loose side with a beveled edge. When this is in position,
the die appears solid. The inner surface of each of the loose sides is
also covered with black velvet, so that when lying with that side upwards
on a black art table it is practically invisible.
4. Three cardboard covers, fitting easily over the dice. In preparation
for the trick the three balls are placed inside the dice, and these are
placed on the table, open side upward, but with the loose sides inserted
on top, and the covers over them.
_Presentation._ The opening “yarn” may run as follows:
“I once read a story about a man who invented a most ingenious piece of
furniture of the ‘combination’ kind. It started, say, as a table, but by
giving it a pull here and a push there, it became a step-ladder. Another
pull and push, and it turned into a mangle, or by just turning a button
or two, you could make it a clothes-horse.
“The story says that at first it was a great success, but after a little
while the thing began to work too easily, and sometimes changed of its
own accord when least expected, which was a drawback. It was annoying,
naturally, when you were using it as a step-ladder, and hanging up a
picture, to have it suddenly turn into a clothes-horse, and land you on
the floor. It was vexing, too, when it was a table, and the family were
seated round it at breakfast, to have it turn into a mangle, and mangle
the cups and saucers.
“I shouldn’t care myself to have a piece of furniture like that: it would
make life too exciting. But the story gave me an idea. It struck me what
a convenience it would be, after showing one of my little experiments,
to be able to turn the articles I had been using into what I wanted for
the next. I haven’t got very far as yet, but I have made a beginning in a
small way, and I will show you how it’s done.
“I have here three wooden dice, with a cover for each of them.” (Take
off all three covers, placing each beside its own die. Then, placing one
of them on the end of your wand, advance with it to the company, tacitly
inviting anyone who pleases to take it off and examine it.) “I use these
covers to spare the feelings of the dice at the critical moment. Like
myself, they are rather bashful. They don’t mind doing the Jekyll and
Hyde business, but they don’t like to be seen doing it. By the way, there
is a very ancient trick (believed to have been invented by Noah in the
Ark, to amuse the boys on a wet Sunday), which is worked by means of a
sham die fitting over the real one. Please take my word for it that I do
not use any such stale device. If I did, you may be quite sure I should
not mention it. These are all three genuine dice. They are rather too
large to play backgammon with, but save as to size, they are merely big
brothers of the regular article. Most of you know, no doubt, that in
properly made dice, the points on opposite sides always together make
seven. Notice please, that each of these dice has the numbers placed
correctly.” (Taking up one of the dice and turning it about.) “You see,
five on this side, two on that; together, seven. Three on this side, four
on that; together, seven. Six on this side, one on that; again seven.”
This is repeated, in a casual way, with the other two dice, the object
being two-fold, viz.: first, by showing all six sides, to induce the
belief that the dice are solid, and secondly, to enable the performer,
in replacing them on the table, to turn each the other way up, so as to
bring the loose side undermost. This is best done by placing the thumb
on top of the die, with the first and second fingers behind it, then
tilting the die over a little to the front, and slipping the two fingers
underneath it. After showing it on all sides, as above mentioned, it is
an easy matter to replace it with the loose side undermost, as desired.
“Now, as it happens, I have no immediate use for dice, but I want to
show you a pretty little effect with billiard-balls. Naturally, the
thing to be done is to change the dice into billiard-balls. It’s quite
easy, if you are provided with my patent quick-change combination dice.
All you need to think about is to take care to have even numbers in
front.” (You turn the dice accordingly, and in so doing lift each die
a little, and shift it forward a couple of inches or so, leaving the
loose side undisturbed just behind it, the ball travelling forward with
the die, though still covered by it.) “You don’t see why they should
show even numbers? Because they would look ‘odd’ if they didn’t. Quite
simple,--when you know it. Now I cover all three dice over, to spare
their blushes, as I explained just now. I wave my wand over them and say,
‘Presto! Proximo! Change!’ And we shall find the dice have all turned to
billiard-balls.”
The right hand lifts the first cover, pressing its sides sufficiently to
lift the die within it, exposing the ball, and in bringing it down again
lands it close to one of the wells of the table. The exposed ball is
picked up with the left hand, and while the attention of the company is
attracted in that direction, the die is allowed to slide out of its case
into the well, after which the ball and cover are brought forward and
handed to someone of the company.
The other two balls are now uncovered in the same way, but in this case
the dice may be left in their covers, the offer of the first cover, found
empty as above, having sufficiently proved that they really disappear.
“Well, we have got our three billiard-balls. Good, so far. Next, can any
gentleman oblige me with the loan of a billiard table? Nobody offers:
that’s unfortunate. Well, does any gentleman happen to have a cue about
him. No again? Well, perhaps it would be ‘cuerious’ if any gentleman had.
I beg your pardon, it slipped out unawares. It shall not occur again.
“It’s unfortunate that I can’t borrow a billiard table and a cue, because
it prevents my showing you my celebrated break of ninety-three off the
red with my eyes shut. When I showed it to Gray, he turned green, but
that is another story. You don’t believe it? Well, I told you it was a
story.
“Anyhow, as we have got the balls, we must do something with them.”
The sequel may vary, according to the fancy of the performer, and his
skill in ball-conjuring. For lack of a more effective _dénouement_, the
trick may be brought to a finish as follows:
Secretly getting the shell ball into his right hand, and picking up the
red ball with the left, the performer proceeds:
“Well, here we have three balls, one red and two white. To prevent ill
feeling between them, I think we had better make them all the same
colour: and as the white are in the majority, we will have them all
white. It is quite easy, if you know how to do it. You have only to
breathe on the ball, give it a roll round in the hand to take the colour
off, and there you are.”
After breathing on the ball, you bring the right hand containing the
shell over it, and exhibit it, shell in front. You then transfer it in
the same condition, to the opposite hand. Then pick up one of the two
white balls with the right hand, transfer it to the left and show the two
side by side. Then pick up and add the third ball, in so doing letting
the red ball fall into the right hand, and while calling attention to the
three in the opposite hand, drop it into the profonde. You then bring
up the shell over one or other of the two solid white balls, thereby
transforming the three into two. Drop the solid from the shell into the
right hand, making the two into one; finally causing the disappearance of
this last after the usual manner.
If the reader (being an expert) is provided with a spare red ball and
red shell, he may offer the choice as to which shall be the colour of
all three, finally causing their disappearance after the manner above
described, or his own version thereof.