hink_ we can manage to squeeze you in somewhere." Like
that, I sez.

[_The Orchestra, consisting of two thin-armed little girls,
with pigtails, enter, and perform a stumbling Overture upon a
cracked piano_. Herr Von KAMBERWOHL, _the Conjuror, appears on
platform, amidst loud clapping from two obvious Confederates
in a back row._

_Herr V. K. (in a mixed accent)._ Lyties and Shentilmans, pefoor I
co-mence viz my hillusions zis hevenin', I 'ave, most hemphadically to
repoodiate hall hassistance from hany spirrids or soopernatural beins
vatsohever. All I shall 'ave ze honour of showing you will be perform
by simple Sloight of 'and, or Ledger-dee-Mang! (_He invites any member
of the Audience to step up and assist him, but the spectators remain
coy._) I see zat I 'ave not to-night so larsh an orjence to select
from as usual, still I 'ope----(_Here one of the obvious Confederates
slouches up, and joins him on the platform. _) Ah, zat is goot! I am
vair moch oblige to you, Sare. (_The Confederate grins sheepishly._)
Led me see--I seem to remember your face some'ow. (_Broader grin from
Confederate._) Hah, you vos 'ere last night?--zat exblains it! But you
'ave nevaire assist me befoor, eh? (_Reckless shake of the head from
Confederate._) I thought nod. _Vair_ veil. You 'ave nevaire done any
dricks mit carts--no? Bot you vill dry? You nevaire dell vat you gan
do till you dry, as ze ole sow said ven she learn ze halphabet. (_He
pauses for a laugh--which doesn't come._) Now, Sare, you know a cart
ven you see 'im? Ah, zat is somtings alretty! Now I vill ask you to
choose any cart or carts out of zis back. (_The Confederate fumbles._)
I don't vish to 'urry you--but I vant you to mike 'aste--&c, &c.

_The Man in Evening Dress_. I remember giving BIMBO, the Wizard of the
West, a guinea once to teach me that trick--there was nothing in it.

_First Lady in Plush Cloak_. And can you _do_ it?

_The M. in E.D. (guardedly_). Well, I don't know that I could exactly
do it _now_--but I know how it's done.

[_He explains elaborately how it is done_.

_Herr Von K. (stamping, as a signal that the Orchestra may
leave off)._ Next I shall show you my zelebrated hillusion of ze
inexhaustible 'At, to gonclude viz ze Invisible 'En. And I shall be
moch oblige if any shentelmans vill kindly favour me viz 'is 'at for
ze burpose of my exberiment.

_The M. in E.D_. Here's mine--it's quite at your service. [_To his
companions. _