6. THE CIGARETTE CHASE
This is based on the Miser’s Dream (see page 51); but, instead of coins, cigarettes are caught in the air, singly and in quantities, placed in a receptacle, and finally distributed to the audience.
With a mastery of the sleights that have been explained and a Diestel dropper on each side a very interesting and effective routine can be presented. Either of the two preceding experiments makes a good opening trick, or, if preferred, the first few catches can be made with the finger clip. As they are caught, the cigarettes should be placed in an opaque receptacle so that an occasional false deposit can be made, the hand being hidden as it again palms the cigarette.
With every cigarette that is caught—or, at least, every other one—some little manipulative feat—such as passing it into one ear and out of the other, into the corner of one eye and making it emerge from the mouth, etc.—should be introduced. They not only make the routine brighter and more intriguing but help to cover the steals. For example, having caught a cigarette with the right hand, you casually show the left hand empty. Push the cigarette into the corner of your right eye and then extract it from your mouth. At the right moment steal a cigarette with the left hand. Place the right-hand cigarette in the left hand, really palming it, and show the one just stolen. Pretend to place this in the receptacle but take it in the thumb grip.
Catch the cigarette in the right hand from the air and work the passage of the cigarette from one hand to the other through the knees. At the last passage leave the visible cigarette in the left hand. Throw this into the receptacle, catch the right-hand fag in the air, and steal another with the left hand, and so on.
By the time you have exhausted the loads in the droppers and the cigarettes from individual holders, the effect on the spectators will be that you have caught a hundred or more. If the cigarettes are to be distributed, a supply should be put in the receptacle beforehand. If a borrowed hat is used for the purpose, it is an easy matter to load the little bundle from the person or the table, as explained in Chapter XV on hat loads. The distribution is always a popular feature.
Once a routine has been worked out, keep strictly to it until it becomes so familiar that you can give your whole attention to the presentation. Beware of working too quickly; rather deliberate moves (which enable the spectator to get the full effect of every manipulation) are the best and, for the same reason, always make a pause for a few moments after each production or vanish for the effect to register.
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