Take three cigarette papers, fold one up into a very small square, and
paste it lightly on the top right corner of the second paper. The third
paper roll lengthwise, and conceal it in your ear. Show the first paper
between both thumbs and fingers, your right thumb on the pasted corner,
then proceed to tear it up into squares, placing the pieces in front of
each other before tearing again. When it is in pieces about the size of
the pasted square, under the shelter of your left hand, with its back to
the audience, separate the pieces from the square and hold the latter up
between your right thumb and finger. Then, pretending to moisten your
left forefinger on your tongue, slip the pieces in your mouth and
conceal them there, and carefully unfold the square held in the other
hand, when the paper will appear to have been restored. You then roll
the paper length wise, and say, "I will swallow it." Put it in your
mouth and pretend to do so. Putting your left hand to your ear, say, "I
will now reproduce from my ear." Pull out the paper concealed there very
carefully, and as you turn to lay it on your table allow the pieces in
your mouth to drop into your hand.