[ WP ] A few people shrieked , two people fell off the bench , one person nearly fainted , half the table gasped , and most of the rest jumped .

`` Now ladies and gentlemen!'' The magician declared, bringing his white gloved hands to a slow stop in front of him, with such a flick of the wrist on his wand hand to suggest the call for their attentiom was more of a spell than a request. 
 
 The room - now a photograph of disarray - simmered down to heed his request; jaws rested rolling on the floor and eyelids clung back to the skulls of their owners, who had all come to the same subconcious conclusion that it is of the greatest importance that, from this point on, they refrain from blinking. The Magician's wire black moustache curled up with his mischevious smile as he traced his wand through the air savouring the silence, which was only broken by the faint dripping of blood falling tentatively off of the end. 
 
 `` Ladied and Gentlemen I assure you! That by the grace of my power and magic, the man who see before has felt no pain!'' 
 
 He theatrically throws his hands to the side, thrusting them toward the body of his brave volunteer Jeremy - who's blood has now stopped racing out from his head wound and instead expands slowly in a marvelous puddle toward the feet of the Magicians closest spectator - who is unconcious. 
 
 `` You've murdered him!'' A voice cried out from the audience whilst the Magician wiped his wand clean of blood and placed down a small number of towels too comically small to adequately deal with the aftermath of his last trick. 
 
 `` Oh? And how did I do that?'' 
 
 `` I-'' the challenger gasped for words and turned to the statuesque spectators surrounding him for any support whilst the Magician, content in his mopping, gleefully pulled a bouquet of flowers from his sleeve, presenting them to Jeremy. `` You put that wand against his head and he just died!'' 
 
 `` I know was n't it brilliant?!'' 
 
 `` Brilliant? He's dead! One minute he's giggling and waving toward his wife and the next-'' 
 
 `` Brilliant!'' 
 
 `` It was n't'Brilliant', you just put that against his head and it exploded. It was like-'' 
 
 `` Magic.'' The Magician said, and the challenger had n't noticed him glide between the audience to stand before him, his top hat hanging from his hand upturned as he stared intently downward. `` You can give whatever you feel is fair.'' 
 
 His free hand shot behind the challengers ear and returned once more seconds later, a large silver coin sitting between two of his gloved fingers, only to disappear entirely into the of his hat when they let it fall. 
 
 `` But I would ask for no coppers.''
