"I am afraid I have destroyed the handkerchief; I hope the young lady will pardon me." He looked at Rose, but she made no sign.

She felt a little disturbed, for it was a fine handkerchief, given her by her aunt.
"I see the young lady is annoyed," continued the magician.

"In that case I must try to repair damages.

I made a little mistake in supposing the handkerchief to be noncombustible.

However, perhaps matters are not so bad as they seem." He tossed the handkerchief behind a screen, and moved forward to a table on which was a neat box.