Nor was Mr. Seymour mistaken; for after a few more specimens of his dexterity, the conjuror requested Mr. Twaddleton, who was sitting directly in his front, to take an _even_ number of counters in one hand, and an _odd_ number in the other; and he would tell him, he said, in which hand he held the even number. Mr. Twaddleton having complied with the request, he was farther desired to multiply the number in the right hand by any _even_ number he pleased, as, for instance, 2; and that in the left hand by an odd number, as 3. “I have done so,” said the vicar. “Then be pleased to add together the two products, and tell me whether the sum be odd or even.” “It is odd,” replied Mr. Twaddleton. “If so,” said the conjuror, “the even number of counters will be in your right hand.” The vicar exposed the counters, and admitted the correctness of the conjuror’s decision.(55) “Ladies and gentlemen,” exclaimed the man of mystery, “I now humbly crave your silent attention, while I exhibit one of the most wonderful examples of my art. Here is a ring,--there a shilling,--and there a glove. I shall presently request each of the three gentlemen before me, to take one of those articles, so secretly as to prevent the possibility of my discovering the choice he may have made. I have here, you perceive, twenty-four counters; _one_ of which I shall give to you, Mr. Seymour; _two_ to you, reverend sir; and _three_ to you, my young philosopher; the remaining eighteen shall remain on the table. Now, gentlemen, I shall retire, and during my absence, you will be so good as to distribute the three articles in any way you may think proper.” The professor, accordingly, walked off the stage; when Mr. Seymour took the ring; the vicar the shilling; and Tom Seymour the glove. The conjuror, on his return, said that he had one more favour to request, that the person who had the ring should take from the eighteen counters on the table as many as he already possessed; the one with the shilling twice as many; and the person with the glove, four times as many as he before possessed. The conjuror again retired, in order that the distribution might be made without his observing it. On returning, the conjuror, having first cast his eye upon the counters that remained on the table, informed the company that Mr. Seymour had taken the ring, Mr. Twaddleton the shilling, and the young gentleman the glove. The moment the parties assented to this decision, the whole company expressed their satisfaction and astonishment by thunders of applause. “That is really very ingenious,” observed the vicar. “How could he perform it?” said Tom: “it is evident that his only guide was the number of counters left on the board.” “I understand the process by which it was accomplished, and will endeavour, at some future time, to explain it,” replied Mr. Seymour.(56)