The Conjurer’s Revenge

“The Conjurer’s Revenge” is a short story written by Stephen Leacock. He is

known for his wit and humour. The story opens with the performance of a conjurer. First,
he shows an empty cloth and takes out a bowl of goldfish. The audience wonders at the
trick. But the “Quick Man” on the front seat tells the people that he “had it up his sleeve”.

The Conjurer’s next trick is Hindostanee rings. He shows separate rings and joins
them in a blow. Again, the Quick Man says the same. After this, the conjurer is worried a
lot but continues his tricks. Next, the conjurer gets a hat from the audience and extracts
seventeen eggs. When the audience begins to think that he is wonderful, the Quick Man
demoralizes him. Hence, the reputation of the conjurer sinks rapidly.

Finally, the conjurer decides to take revenge. He says that he is going to perform a
famous Japanese trick. He requests the Quick Man to give his gold watch. The conjurer
pounds it to pieces with his permission. Next, he borrows his handkerchief and makes
holes in it. Then the conjurer dances on his silk hat and burns his celluloid collar. Then he
smashes his spectacles with a hammer. The Quick Man thinks that this is also a trick
which he does not understand.

The conjurer claims that he has damaged the Quick Man’s watch, collar, hat and
spectacles only with his permission. Then he declares that unless the quick man permits
him to paint green strips on his over coat or tie, he cannot continue the performance.
Finally the audience understands the intelligence of the conjurer.   Hence, the Conjurer
takes his revenge on the quick man for his irritating behavior.