pages: latestmagicbeing00hoff.pdf, 152
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latestmagicbeing00hoff.pdf | 152 | 136 LATEST MAGIC have been tied. The performer returns to the table to fetch the bottle; and during the transit passes the wand to the opposite hand, in SO doing drawing off the knotted ribbon (to be dropped a moment later into the profonde), and exposes the opposite end. He removes stopper from bottle, leaving it on the table. "Now comes the most critical part of the opera- tion. I am going by means of the Alkahest to dissolve these knots. How many did we say there were? Five ? Then I must use five drops and no more. If I were to overdo it in the smallest degree the consequences would be serious. I should destroy the ribbon altogether, and in these hard times ribbon is ribbon, even if it is only six- three a yard." He brings forward the bottle, and with great pretence of accuracy lets fall on the ribbon the suggested number of drops. Then slipping off the rubber ring he offers the end of the ribbon to some member of the company to unwind, when the knots are naturally found to have disappeared. "The Alkahest retains its virtue, you see, even after SO many years. Every knot is completely dissolved. I will conclude by asking you an impromptu riddle. Just one of those bright thoughts that strike me sometimes when I least expect it- "When is a knot not a knot "When it's not there. |