pages: latestmagicbeing00hoff.pdf, 193
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latestmagicbeing00hoff.pdf | 193 | THE MYSTERY OF THE THREE SEALS 177 hands into the innermost envelope. But I don't expect you to take my word for it. Will you, sir" (any given spectator) "open the outermost envel- ope, first, however, satisfying yourself that it is still securely sealed ?" It is just possible, though not very likely, that the person to whom the envelope and penknife have been handed may notice, and remark audibly, that he cannot feel any coin in the envelope. If such a remark is made, you reply that the coin naturally had to be de-materialised before it could pass into the envelope, and it will take a few minutes for it to re-materialise, but it will become gradually more solid, and will then be distinctly perceptible. The outer envelope having been opened you take back its contents, and under pretext of getting as many witnesses as possible to fair play, have the next envelope opened by a second person, seated at some little distance from the lender of the shill- ing. The last named gentleman is invited himself to open the last envelope, or rather, the trick envel- ope, which you in transit substitute for it. Having already opened a precisely similar envelope, and found it securely fastened, he is not likely to antici- pate anything different about this one. If he uses the penknife and euts it open along the edge of the flap in the usual way he will naturally hold it with the thumb upon the seal and all will be well. As a rule, he will be more concerned to identify the coin as the one he lent than to seek for any sus- |