The Mascot Moth (Excerpt from David Devant's Secrets of my Magic, Chapter VIII--Famous Illusions Revealed) By a curious chance a Hove policeman became the first spectator of one of my best illusions. It was called "The Mascot Moth," and it happened in this way: My friend, Mr. Bate, had made the apparatus for this illusion and wired me one night that it was complete and ready for trial. Going down to Brighton after a show in London and arriving late, I found that he had been good enough to make a trap-door in the floor of his photographic studio, beneath which was his workshop. This made it possible to try the illusion there and then. The lady I had brought with me, Miss Nancy Grogan, was willing, and we set to work. Through one of the blinds in the glass roof being defective a policeman, who happened to live in a house close by, was attracted to this aperture by hearing some blood-curdling shouts coming from the studio. So piqued was he that he climbed over a roof to get a better view. Looking through a hole, he saw a lady in a silk dress, which was painted to represent a moth. She had gorgeous wings attached to her arms and was waving them about when I approached her with a candlestick, making pantomime motions, meant to represent temptation by the bright flame of the candle. She repeatedly folded her wings over her face when I stealthily walked up behind her and was just about to apply the flame to the wings when I gave one of the aforesaid blood-curdling shouts, and lo! the woman was gone in the twinkling of an eye. Dress, wings and all had completely disappeared in a flash. Now the policeman who was watching saw me begin to manipulate a black velvet screen. He jumped to the conclusion that it was a case of Black Magic. He made his way round to Mr. Bate's front door and politely asked for an explanation, requesting him to notice that he was not in uniform and that this visit was entirely unofficial. Mr. Bate came back to me and asked me what he should say. I suggested it would be a good idea to show him the trick and he could see the effect at close quarters. So be was invited in, and placed in a chair three feet from the Moth, which I again vanished as before. We then explained to him that it was a stage illusion. He was pretty bewildered by this time and stumbled out with apologies and promises to keep the matter to himself, which promise I think he has faithfully kept. It so happens that I was inspired with the idea of this illusion by a dream. One night my wife saw me get up, light a candle at the bedside and sit watching the flame intently for some time. I then blew the candle out and got back to bed. In the morning I told her that I had had a wonderful dream. I had dreamt I was chasing a moth about the stage, a moth who was a human being with wings, and was trying to tempt it towards me with the candle flame when it suddenly shrivelled up and disappeared. At that moment I became imbued with the desire to emulate this wonderful dream. . . THE MASCOT MOTH AN INDIAN STORY Written and Invented by DAVID DEVANT CHARACTERS. Colonel Passmore. Captain Jack Holt. Lieutenant Robert Wentworth (Col. Passmore's nephew). Max Hardy (a guest). Mrs. Ackroyd. Maude Ackroyd (her daughter). Munga (Indian juggler) Patna (his assistant) SCENE. Colonel Passmore's Bungalow at Rajpoor. Bob, Jack, and Max discovered playing poker. Jack throws down his band. Bob and Max raise each other, and Max finally wins, Bob having seen him. JACK. Hard lines, old chap, with a hand like that. BOB. Yes, just my luck. I have to give you eighty, Mr. Hardy. MAX. Yes, thanks. BOB. Excuse me a moment; I haven't enough here. (Counting notes.] I must replenish stores. JACK. And then I vote we stop playing. BOB. Stop? Not I. I shall go on. [Rises.] MAX. A fight, eh? BOB. Yes. More ammunition is all I want. MAX. I hope your guns are not too heavy. BOB. Well, I have small arms in ready cash, and a new Maxim in the shape of a cheque-book. JACK. An old maxim would serve you better: "Never throw good money after bad." BOB. I won't. I shall play until I win. [Exit. JACK. A man in Wentworth's position--just about to marry--has no right to gamble like this. MAX. My dear fellow, isn't marriage itself a gamble? JACK. Not in his case. MAX. Well, I've won his money, and if he wants to play I must. JACK. It's a pity! He's always so unlucky at cards. MAX. At cards--yes! But very lucky in love, it seems. JACK. Rather. Miss Ackroyd is quite charming. Have you met her yet? MAX. Colonel Passmore introduced me yesterday. She and her mother seem to be enjoying their visit. JACK. Trust the Colonel for that! He's a splendid host. [Enter BOB, followed by MUNGA and PATNA, carrying traps, etc. BOB. I say, I'm awfully sorry, you chaps, but my uncle has brought in these jugglers to amuse the ladies. Do you mind if we play in the next room MAX. Not at all, not at all. [They gather up the cards. BOB. I'll join you in a moment. Then look out for yourself, Mr. Hardy. [Waving cheque-book.] MAX. All right! [Aside.] I generally do. [Takes up pot, empties it, and goes off. BOB and JACK move towards door, JACK leading. JACK. [Coming back to BOB.] I say, old chap, I wish you'd chuck this game. Your luck's dead out. BOB. Jack, I must go on till I've won back what I've lost. JACK. Have your own way, then, but remember I've warned you. [Exit. BOB. [Aside.] Yes, so that, if I fail, you can say, "I told you so." Save me from my friends! [While this conversation has been going On MUNGA and PATNA have been closing the curtains, and the scene is now dark. BOB. Are you going to juggle in the dark? MUNGA. No, Sahib--light, please. BOB. Plenty of candles over there--light 'em up. [Throws him a box of matches. MUNGA and PATNA light two candelabra.] Anything else you want? [Recognizes MUNGA.] Hullo! I've seen you before. Yes, I remember now. MUNGA. Yes, Sahib, wair good. You save me from tiger eating to devour. BOB. Just so. The brute didn't know you were the greatest juggler in India. And I--well, I made a lucky shot. MUNGA. Wair good, Sahib! Munga forget never. BOB. That's all right. Don't bother about it. MUNGA. Munga says, "Wair good. To Sahib comes a gift from Munga" --yes? BOB. All right--fire away! Anything you like. [Enter MAUDE.] Hullo, Maude! just in time for the show. Let me offer you a front seat. MAUDE. So that is the great Munga! Isn't he perfectly sweet [MUNGA and PATNA bow low. BOB. Is he? I hadn't noticed it. [Goes and looks at him.] I say, Maude, you must excuse me for a bit. I'm wanted. MAUDE. Oh, Bob, you were so keen on seeing this performance! BOB. So I am; but--er--some fellows arc waiting for me in the next room. MAUDE. Why? Is it anything important? BOB. Yes, it's most important. MAUDE. I hope you won't be away long. BOB. No, dear, I think not. When it's over I'll bring the others in to see what's going on. MAUDE. Then Munga must keep his best tricks for the last. MUNGA. The Mascot Moth--wair good! Him the last. MAUDE. The Mascot Moth? What's that? MUNGA. Wonderful! Comes only once in twenty years. When comes it is luck--wair good! Sahib shall see. BOB. I wish I'd seen it an hour ago, then. MAUDE. Why an hour ago? BOB. [Confused.] Well, say ages ago, if you like. Luck never comes too soon. [COLONEL and MRS. A. behind curtain. COLONEL. [Heard off.) I've a little surprise for you, Mrs. Ackroyd. BOB. Now, Maude, make my excuses to your mother and uncle. Have you see this picture in the Graphic? [Business. Exit BOB. COLONEL and MRS. A. come in centre. MAUDE at R. MRS. ACKROYD. No, really, Colonel, I'm far too limp even to guess. COLONEL. Ah! Climate and liver! We all suffer that way. But you will enjoy it, I'm sure. MRS. ACKROYD. Which--the climate or the liver? COLONEL. Pardon me--the surprise I have in store for you. MRS. ACKROYD. (Collecting her faculties.] Yes, yes, of course! How stupid of me! COLONEL. Not at all. My mistake. MRS. ACKROYD. Well, if you've found something that will keep me awake I shall be happy. This heat makes me too drowsy for words. COLONEL. I've engaged two real Indian jugglers. One is the great Munga. MAUDE. And the great Munga is here! [Placing her mother in chair.] MRS. ACKROYD. Thanks, my dear, but I'mso tired. Dear me. [Sinks in chair and goes to sleep. COLONEL talking to MUNGA. MAUDE. Bob says we are not to wait for him, Uncle. He has important business on in the next room. COLONEL. I should think we won't wait for him. What next, I wonder? MAUDE. He has promised to come for the last trick--a new one, the Mascot Moth. COLONEL. Very well. Now then, Munga, what are you going to show us first? MUNGA. Sahib will see. Watch. COLONEL. Mrs. Ackroyd! MRS. ACKROYD. [Waking up.] Dear me! I beg your pardon, Colonel. Did you speak? COLONEL. Yes, we are going to see something interesting, no doubt. MRS. ACKROYD. [Surveying jugglers.] What weird-looking creatures! Dear me! [Goes off to sleep again. MUNGA brings forward hoop and drops it. MRS. A. starts. MRS. ACKROYD. What was that? [Realizes situation.] Oh yes, of course! dear me [Goes to sleep again. Music--Sylph. MAUDE. Uncle, I think there is something behind the couch. COLONEL. Oh no, my dear. Munga, may I take the couch away? MUNGA. Yes, Sahib. [COLONEL takes couch away. Directly the SYLPH is shown MAUDE goes Up to PATNA and asks him if he feels all right. JACK enters O.P. and comes up behind COLONEL. JACK. I wish you'd come in the next room for a moment, Sir. COLONEL. Why, what's the matter? You look alarmed. JACK. And so I am, sir! Bob is playing poker for unheard-of stakes. COLONEL. With whom? JACK. Max Hardy, among others, COLONEL. That fellow again! Then I know who is winning. Is Bob the loser? JACK. Bob is worse than ruined. I can see no hope for him. Can you, Sir? COLONEL. Can I--can't I! Wait a bit. [To MRS. A.] Will you excuse me for a moment, Mrs. Ackroyd? MRS. ACKROYD. [Half awake.] And I gave her a month's notice immediately. MAUDE. Mother dear! The Colonel is speaking to you. MRS, ACKROYD. Yes, to be sure! I beg your pardon, Colonel. You were saying . . .? COLONEL. Will you excuse me for a moment? MRS. ACKROYD. [Drowsily.] Of course! One gets so thirsty here. Dear me! [Dozes.] COLONEL. [To MAUDE.] I'll return soon, my dear. MAUDE. Very well, uncle! I'm quite enjoying this; and--[glancing towards MRS. A. asleep]--so is Mother. COLONEL. Evidently. [To Munga.] Munga, show the ladies something else. MUNGA. Yes, Sahib--wair good! [Exit COLONEL and JACK. Mango trick. MUNGA gives oranges from tree to PATNA, who passes them to audience. Flowers are also given, first to MRS. A. and MAUDE and then to audience. MAUDE. Why, they're real! [BOB enters R. MRS. A. is asleep. MUNGA and PATNA are packing up Mango trick.] Why, Bob, what's wrong? BOB. Everything's wrong. I've been gambling, and I've lost. I'm a beggar--poorer than that juggler, Maude. I must give you up, say good-bye, and get away from this. MAUDE. Good-bye? Why? BOB. You couldn't marry a pauper. MAUDE. Possibly not! But I'm going to marry you, whatever happens, Bob. Money's nothing. You'll get it back somehow. BOB No such luck! MUNGA. [Who has been listening.] Sahib, you say luck. Watch. [PATNA pulls curtain on one side. MUNGA. The Mascot Moth! MAUDE. Bob, look! BOB. Yes, but where does the luck come in? MUNGA. His Mascot Moth. You touch him, Sahib, touch him. (Business as before. Moth vanishes. Enter JACK, waving banknotes and cheque, and carrying pot of gold. JACK. Splendid news, Bob! Every penny of your money, old chap! BOB. Why? How? JACK. That man Hardy is a sharper, swindler. The Colonel exposed him and he disgorged. BOB. Maude, I swear I'll never touch a card again. MAUDE. Oh. Bob! [They embrace. The Mascot Moth! MRS. ACKROYD. (Suddenly waking up.] Dear me! CURTAIN.