The magician tugged one corner of the sheet, snatched it away; the audience hardly noticed that the sheet disappeared without his bothering to gather it in; they were looking at Madame Merlin, still floating, still sleeping, six feet above the platform.  The platform stood in the middle rear of the tent and the audience surrounded it on all sides.  A companion of the boy who knew all about stage magic said, "Okay, Speedy, where's the steel rod?"