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The three watches are put on a plate, and some one of the company chooses one, the same person opens the watch, and finds under the glass a piece of the burnt card: and in the watch-case, under the watch, is found a miniature card, resembling the one burnt.
Explanation.
The card chosen is known by the arrangement we have explained. The watches are placed, well covered with paper, on a little trap: the trap is described in the cutting, tearing, and mending a handkerchief. When you have made known to the confederate the card which is chosen, he stretches his arm to the table to take one of the watches, and deposit there what is requisite; the watches must be covered with a napkin, which is supported by bottles, or somewhat else, otherwise the hand of the confederate would be seen, or the napkin would be seen to move. As for the means employed to cause the ashes of the burnt card to disappear in the box, it consists in putting into the cover a piece of wood or paper which exactly fits it, and falls down to the bottom when the box is shut; this piece of wood or paper being at the same colour as the inside of the box, operates as a double bottom, and hides the ashes from the view of the deceived spectator, who at that minute is tempted to believe that the ashes are gone out to be combined afresh, and to pro-
