(_Die zwei magichen Brieftaschen._)
Cut out two rectangular pieces of pasteboard three inches by three and a
half inches, A B. Run a band of tape on the board A, from C to E, and
from D to F: then turn over and glue the tape at C D at the back of A;
and at E F at the back of B.
Fasten two other tapes in the same way on card B at G L on the back of
it, and at G H on the back of A.
The two boards will now form a book of two leaves, opening as on hinges.
Bring four other tapes under those already fastened, marked M H Q R, and
glue their ends down at the back of the card; and two more tapes on O
and B sides of B; all of which form borders and are for no other
purpose.
Make two envelopes like those for letters, and fasten down the front,
where the address is written—which must be the same size as the card, so
as to cover all the tapes G J and H L as well as the space between them;
one envelope being thus face down upon the ribbons to which it is glued,
the second envelope is pasted to the first one, face to face, one hiding
the other and both, of course, hiding the tapes from view.
[Illustration]
As the book can be opened _twice over_, by bringing the leaf on the left
upon that next to it, and that again over on the other, when the
envelope now open and alone shown is the duplicate, and not that first
seen, a deception is easily performed.
_Performance._ A coin is borrowed and marked, or a question is written,
and the coin or the paper is put into one of the envelopes, and folded
up. In closing up the book you secretly reverse it, and bring the second
envelope up so as to be shown open and empty, or with an answer to the
question.
_Performance with cards._ Having had a drawn card carefully noted, you
undertake to change it into another one altogether. Placing it in your
magic book and proceeding as with the coin above, the transformation is
readily accomplished.