The first step towards the comprehension of the apparatus will be to completely take out the drawer, which, however, even when removed, does not at first sight indicate any speciality. On a closer examination, it will be found that the drawer is in reality double (see [Fig. 170]), consisting of two parts, a and b, the latter sliding backwards and forwards freely within the former, which is, in fact, a mere case or shell, open at one end. If any object, suppose an orange, be placed in b, and a and b together be placed in the outer case, it is obvious that, upon drawing out a, b will come with it, and the orange will be seen; but if b be held back, a will be drawn out alone, and the apparatus will be apparently empty. For the means of retaining a at pleasure, it will be necessary to examine the outer case, which will be found to have a groove or mortice cut in its under surface (see [Fig. 171]), along which lies a spring or tongue of wood, fixed by a screw at one end, the other, or free end, being provided with a catch or stud c, which, upon pressure, is forced through an opening in the bottom of the outer case, and made to sink into a little hole or notch in the bottom of b, being again withdrawn by the action of the spring as soon as the pressure is removed. The bottom of the outer case is covered with velvet, ostensibly as a finish, but really to conceal the wooden tongue. When it is desired to draw out a without b, the apparatus is held as shown in [Fig. 171], and a gentle pressure applied by the finger through the velvet upon the free end of the wooden tongue, thus forcing the catch upwards, and keeping b back. If a be drawn out without this pressure, b will come with it. The upper edge of a is turned over all round, so that a casual observer is not likely to detect any difference in the thickness of the sides of the drawer, whether it is drawn out with or without its inner casing.
Fig. 172. Fig. 173.
Some drawer-boxes have a different arrangement for holding back the inner drawer, consisting of a little wire bolt lying loosely in a cylindrical cavity in the hinder end of b, corresponding with a similar cavity in the side of the outer case. As long as the drawer-box is kept in its normal position, this pin offers no obstacle to the withdrawal of b with a; but if the box be turned over on the side in which is the bolt, the latter drops partially into the hole in the outer case, thus bolting b to it, until, by again turning over the apparatus, the bolt is made to drop back again into its original position. The arrangement is rather difficult to explain in writing, but will become quite clear upon an examination of [Figs. 172 and 173], both representing a section of the hinder end of the drawer-box, the one in its upright and the one in its turned-over position. The necessary turning over of the box is plausibly accounted for by the performer’s desire that the audience shall, for greater fairness, have a full view of the top of the apparatus.
Fig. 174. Fig. 175.
There is an ingenious addition sometimes found in drawer-boxes of French make, whereby b may be at pleasure bolted to a, and the two may thus be handed for examination, with little chance of their secret being detected. The bolting and unbolting is effected by a slight movement up or down of the knob in front, thereby raising or depressing a kind of hook of bent tin, working in the thickness of the front of a. [Fig. 174] shows this hook in its raised or unhooked, and [Fig. 175] in its depressed or hooked condition.
The drawer-box, as above described, is available to produce or disappear, but not to change articles. With a slight modification, however, it may be made available for changing also. The inner drawer b is in this case made only half the depth of a, or even less; and thus, when closed, there is left between the bottom of b and that of a a considerable space, so that a and b may in this case each be made to hold a given object, and an apparent transformation be effected. Thus, for instance, b may be filled with bran, and any small article, such as a borrowed pocket-handkerchief, be placed in a. The drawer is first pulled out with b, and shown filled to the brim with bran; but on being closed and again opened (without b), the bran is apparently transformed into the handkerchief.
Another modification of the drawer-box is known as
