It is very easy to see what happened. So soon as the steel knife approached the dish, the magnet within the faked tongue made the latter leap up to meet the knife and cling to it. Of course, when the fork was plunged through the thin outer coating of meat it struck the tin, making it crack in a strange manner. In [Fig. 7] is shown the method of fixing the magnet, the whole faked tongue being shown in section. A number of experiments had to be undertaken before the trick could be made to work satisfactorily, but in the end Bobbie was quite pleased with the result of his labors.
Fig. 7.—The mysterious tongue.
The whole success of the potato trick depended upon Dolly, who worked the simple apparatus to perfection. Attached to the handle of the lid was a strong piece of wire, which the half-light rendered invisible. This passed through a loop in the ceiling and over to the curtain, to enable that young lady to pull. A second wire was attached to it that pulled the cover and the potatoes out of sight. [Fig. 8] will show how this was arranged. A ring C is put in the ceiling A B over the tureen. From the lid E a wire D passes up through this ring and along the ceiling to the back of the curtain G. Upon the wire D a ring H is threaded, whilst attached to this ring is another length of wire F, that also passes behind the curtain.
By pulling the wire D the lid of the tureen is naturally raised to the ceiling at C. When it has reached the top, it is only necessary to pull the wire F, and pay out the wire D, to make the whole lid travel towards G. Each of the potatoes had been previously attached to the lid by a wire about ten inches long, with the exception of the small one that remained in the dish, which had a separate arrangement of thread, similar to that of the lid, all to itself.
The movement of the bottle upon the table was caused by the inflation of a little india-rubber bulb beneath the cloth, and worked by the host as he sat at the table.
Fig. 8.—The disappearing potatoes.
The excitement of his guests having been thus aroused it was a very simple matter for Bobby Cargill to move the table with his knees, whilst by dexterously pulling a string Dolly was able to overturn the little table laden with books ([Fig. 4], H). To add to all this confusion Dolly then began slowly to lower the light, tap the wall by her side, and utter dismal groans. She then clothed herself in a white sheet, opened the curtains, and made her way out of the room with all haste. Little wonder that general consternation ensued!
It only remains to be mentioned that the speaking tube concealed amongst the flowers in the center-piece was sufficient to carry the laughter from one of the servants, who, acting under instructions, stood without the room. It proved the climax, and peace was scarcely restored until they were all sitting below with the Ghost herself, and partaking of a real supper without any faked tongue.