The magician’s bottle is shown to the company, and a little wine poured
from it to prove it is not empty. A handkerchief and ring are borrowed,
and put into the bottle.
A borrowed casket is then held up in view, fastened with sealed thread,
and Senor Don Hanquey y Panquey announces his intention to break it open
to see the contents, but previously will return the borrowed articles.
Out of the bottle, then, he pulls the handkerchief and ring, dripping
with wine, and places them upon the sealed box, in plain view. The
bottle is taken away.
The wine-soaked handkerchief is crammed into a pistol and fired at the
box. On opening it there is found a second box within, which being also
opened, discovers the handkerchief, ironed and perfumed, and the ring.
_Explanation._—The table is made with a hollow leg as usual, but with a
larger aperture, closed with a double trap, through which a piston rod
may push up a box deposited at its base.
The borrowed ring and handkerchief are put into the secret compartment
of the bottle (see _The Secret Out_, and _The Magician’s Own Book_),
where they remain until the bottle is taken out of the room. The
wine-saturated handkerchief and ring put upon the sealed box are
duplicated. When the assistant receives the bottle, he takes out the
real ring and handkerchief, which latter he places in a box going into
the casket, which has no bottom, the better for the two to be pushed up
within the gueridon. The table has the double in its base when it is
brought on the stage, and the duplicate handkerchief is fired at it.
Consequently, you are sure to find the borrowed articles in the casket
when it is opened.