Page:Magic book, or, The whole art of ledgeremain.pdf/16

16 wipe it dry, and give it to some person to uncork. The moment the cork is drawn to the party’s astonishment, the water will begin to run out of the bottom of the bottle.

Money Box.

A piece of money, or a ring, is put into a box, in the presence of a person who holds it; the operator stands at a distance, and bids him shake the box gently, and the piece is heard to rattle inside; he is desired again to shake it, and then it is not heard to rattle; the third time it is again heard, but the fourth time it is gone, and is found in the shoe of one of the company.

The box must be made on purpose, in such a manner that in shaking it gently up and down, the piece within is heard; on the contrary, shaking it hard, horizontally, a little spring, which falls on the piece, prevents it from being heard, which makes you imagine it is not within. He who performs the trick, then touches the box, under pretence of showing how to shake it, and although it is locked, he easily gets out the piece by means of a secret opening, availing himself of that minute to put in a false piece, and to leave the box with the same person, whom he causes