"Yes; but without the aid of a trained assistant, you could not have given a good performance. Who could have assisted you?"
"I would have done well enough. Zolverein did not know you could go on and give a performance. How could you have carried out the 'Educated Fly' trick without me?"
"Couldn't," Merry immediately confessed. "And I want to compliment you on the way you made the fly work. It was as natural as life. Now, even if you think you have not been used right by Zolverein, there is no reason why we should quarrel."
"I presume you actually mean to take the apparatus?" he asked.
"Why," said Frank, surprised, "of course! It was given to me, and, with its aid, I shall be able to go on the road and do a thriving business."
"I thought you were under contract to Barnaby Haley?"
"I am; but I have every reason to believe my engagement with him will not last much longer."
"I am certain the 'Empire Theater Comedy Company' will not stay out another week."
"I shall try to get Mr. Haley to let me off and fill my place with somebody else."
"Then you are determined to go on the road as a traveling magician?"
"In that case, there is no chance for me to buy this apparatus from you?"
Mazarin turned away, and Frank saw he was thoroughly angered.
Again Merry made an attempt to pacify the man and engage him to travel as an assistant, but it was fruitless.
"Go ahead!" cried the man. "I can't wish you good luck, and I do not believe you will have any, for you will be forced to engage another assistant. You have our ideas away up by your success to-night, but you will not duplicate it. I feel certain of that."
"Wait," said Frank. "I have not paid you for your aid to-night."
"Well, that is unpleasant," muttered Frank; "but a fellow can't expect everything to come his way."
When he had finished dressing, he went up onto the stage to pack away the apparatus with which the "Educated Fly" trick had been performed.
The fly was placidly resting against the face of the mirror in the blank corner. Frank took it up and put it into the fake cage.
The fly was a perfect imitation of a real fly, but it was made of cork, and it had an iron core, which rested flat against the glass when everything was ready for the exhibition to begin.