“Throwing Light.”
Two of the company agree privately upon a word (which as before, should be one susceptible of two or three meanings), and interchange remarks tending to throw light upon it. The rest of the players do their best to guess the word, but when either of them fancies he has succeeded, he does not publicly announce his guess, but makes such a remark as to indicate to the two initiated that he has discovered their secret. If they have any doubt that he has really guessed the word, they challenge him, i. e., require him to name it in a whisper. If his guess proves to be right, he joins in the conversation, and assists in throwing light on the subject; but if, on the other hand, he is wrong, he must submit to have a handkerchief thrown over his head, and so remain, until by some more fortunate observation he shall prove that he really possesses the secret.
We will give an example. Mr. A. and Miss B. have agreed on “Bed” as the word, and proceed to throw light upon it; alternating upon its various meanings of a place of repose, a part of a garden, or the bed of a river.
Miss B. I don’t know what your opinion may be, but I am never tired of it.
Mr. A. Well, for my part, I am never in a hurry, either to get to it or to leave it.
Miss B. How delightful it is after a long tiring day!
Mr. A. Yes. But it is a pleasure that soon palls. The most luxurious person does not care for too much of it at a stretch.
Miss B. Oh! don’t you think so? In early spring for instance, with the dew upon the flowers!
Mr. A. Ah! you take the romantic view. But how would you like it beneath some rapid torrent, or some broad majestic river.
Miss C. (thinks she sees her way, and hazards a remark). Or in a souché!
Mr. A. I beg your pardon. Please tell me, in a whisper, what you suppose the word to be?
Miss C. (whispers). Fish! What! isn’t that right?
Mr. A. I am afraid you must submit to a temporary eclipse. (Throws her handkerchief over her face.)
Mr. A. to Miss B. You mentioned spring, I think. For my own part, I prefer feathers.
Mr. D. (rashly concludes, from the combination of “spring” and “feathers,” that spring-chickens must be referred to). Surely you would have them plucked?
Mr. A. (looks puzzled). I think not. May I ask you to name your guess? Oh, no, quite out. I must trouble you for your pocket-handkerchief.
Miss B. It is curious, isn’t it, that they must be made afresh every day?
Mr. A. So it is; though I confess it never struck me in that light before. I don’t fancy, however, that old Brown the gardener makes his quite so often.
Miss B. You may depend that he has it made for him, though.
Miss C. (from under the handkerchief). At any rate, according as he makes it, his fate will be affected accordingly. You know the proverb?
Mr. A. (removing the handkerchief). You have fairly earned your release. By the way, do you remember an old paradox upon this subject, “What nobody cares to give away, yet nobody wishes to keep?”
Miss E. Ah! now you have let out the secret. I certainly don’t wish to keep mine for long together, but I would willingly give it away if I could get a better.
Miss B. Tell me your guess. (Miss E. whispers.) Yes, you have hit it. I was afraid Mr. A.’s last “light” was rather too strong.
And so the game goes on, until every player is in the secret, or the few who may be still in the dark “give it up” and plead for mercy. This, however, is a rare occurrence, for, as the company in general become acquainted with the secret, the “lights” are flashed about in a rash and reckless manner, till the task of guessing becomes almost a matter of course to an ordinarily acute person.