pages: latestmagicbeing00hoff.pdf, 151
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latestmagicbeing00hoff.pdf | 151 | THE STORY OF THE ALKAHEST 135 him. No I feared not! Another pretty ex- periment is the dissolving of a diamond ring, but I have no diamond rings myself, and I find that if I borrow other people's and don't return them I get myself disliked. So I must try to show the power of the Alkahest in a less expensive way." Returning to his table, the performer with his right hand picks up the prepared wand (holding it SO as to conceal the ribbon coiled upon it), and with the left hand the mass of loose ribbon. "I have here a piece of ribbon : just ordinary ribbon. Will some lady oblige me by tying a knot in it, about three inches from the end. Thank you! Now will some other lady tie another knot about three inches from the first one." This is repeated till five or six knots have been tied, taking up about half the ribbon. "I am not sure how many knots have been tied. Please count them for me as I roll the ribbon round my wand." So saying, he winds the ribbon, beginning with the knotted end, on to the free portion of the wand, counting the knots as he does so, and continuing the winding till the whole has been taken up. In so doing he takes care to cover up the knots, and to make the appearance of the rolled ribbon cor- respond as nearly as possible with the hidden coil upon the other end, finally securing it with the rub- ber ring from his pocket. We will suppose that five knots are found to |