THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 The John J. and Hanna M. McManus 
 
 Morris N. and Chesley V. Young 
 
 Collection 
 
 y^^Vrn: 
 
 
t> 
 
MEMOIRS 
 
 R B E R T - H U D I N, 
 
 AMBASSADOR, AUTHOR, AND CONJTJEOK. 
 
 WRITTEN BY HIMSELF. 
 
 r 
 
 Stconlf ([Edition. 
 
 LONDON: 
 CHAPMAN AND HALL, 193 PICCADILLY. 
 
 1860. 
 
 [Registered according to the International Copyright Act.'] 
 

 Add to Lib, 
 
 GIFT 
 
 LONDON: I'BINTED BY W. CLOWES AND SONS, STAMFORD STREET. 
 

 TKANSLATOK'S PREFACE. 
 
 Ix my humble capacity of translator of Eobert-Houdin's 
 life, I may be permitted to make one or two remarks, and 
 answer in anticipation the objections whicb I feel confi- 
 dent will be raised. 
 
 In the first place, I am perfectly well aware that this 
 English copy of Hondin's book will strike many of my 
 readers as even more Gallicised than the original ; but I 
 beg to assure them I have produced this impression from 
 malice prepense. It would have been a very easy task 
 for me to have made the book thoroughly English ; but I 
 feel, had I done so, it would have been as flat as yester- 
 day's champagne. The great merit of the book, to my 
 mind, is the intense belief M. Houdin has in his mission, 
 and thoTigh no Englishman would write of himself in such 
 a satisfied tone, I am firmly convinced that the arch-con- 
 juror is actuated by the same feelings which induced Vatel 
 to fall on his sword because the fish did not arrive in 
 time. Death before disgrace! is apparently Houdin's 
 motto. Granting this indulgence for his " brave 'ords," I 
 thought it much better to present him to my readers as a 
 
 148 
 
IV translator's preface. 
 
 real Frenchman, and not to endeavour to array him in an 
 English garb, in which he would have been a nondescript. 
 
 Exception may be taken, also, to the attributes I have 
 ascribed to him on my title-page. But a slight considera- 
 tion will prove the justice of my choice. That he is an 
 author, almost a novelist, the Torrini episode will suffi- 
 ciently prove ; he was an ambassador most decidedly, if 
 success be any criterion of diplomacy ; while his claim to 
 the rank of conjuror will be granted by every one who saw 
 him — and who did not ? 
 
 Most refreshing, too, is the way in which he writes 
 of England and the English; and in his sincerity he 
 almost equals his countryman, who said, " I always speak 
 the truth, and I must allow I have seen an Englishman 
 who had not red hair." When we remember how many 
 artistes, after making a fortune among us, have repaid us 
 by insulting perfidious Albion, I feel sure that my readers 
 will give his " Eeminiscences " a hearty welcome, and not 
 think the worse of him because he does homage to the pre- 
 valent failing of the true-blooded Frenchman. I dare say, 
 after all, that many Englishmen are equally convinced of 
 their own supreme talent, though they do not express that 
 opinion so naively as does Kobert-Houdin. 
 
 LASCELLES^WEAXALL. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTEE I. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 My Birth and Parentage — My Home— The licssons of Colonel 
 Bernard— Paternal Ambition— My first Mechanical Attempts 
 — Had I but a Rat ! — A Prisoner's Industry — Tlie Abbe La- 
 riviere — My Word of Honour — Farewell to my darling Tools . 1 
 
 CHAPTER n. 
 
 Country Idler — Dr. Carlosbach, Conjuror and Professor of 
 Mystification — The Sand-bag and the Stirrup Trick — I turn 
 Lawyer's Clerk, and the Minutes appear to me very long — A 
 small Automaton— A respectful Protest— I mount a Step in tlie 
 OflSce — A Machine of Porter's Power — The Acrobatic Canaries 
 — Monsieur Roger's Remonstrances — My Father decides that I 
 shall follow my Bent , 
 
 CHAPTER m. 7^7 
 
 My Cousin Robert — The most important Event in my Life— How 
 a Man becomes a Sorcerer — My first Sleight-of-Hand Feat — 
 An utter Failure — Practising the Eye and the Hand — Curious 
 Experiment in Prestidigitation — Monsieur Noriet — An Action 
 more ingenious than delicate — I am poisoned — Influence of 
 Delirium . 20 
 
Vi CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 return to Life — A strange Doctor — Torrini and Antonio : a 
 Conjuror and a Fanatic for Music — A Murderer's Confession — 
 A perambulating House — The Fair at Angers — A portable 
 Theatre — I witness for the first Time a Conjuring Performance 
 — The blind Man's Game at Piquet — A dangerous Rival — 
 Signer Castelli eats a Man alive 31 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 Antonio's Confessions — How to gain Public Applause — The Count 
 
 de , Mountebank — 1 repair an Automaton — A Mechanician's 
 
 Shop on Wheels — Nomadic Life — Happy Existence — Torrini's 
 Lessons — His Opinions about Sleight of Hand — A fashionable 
 Greek, Victim of his own Swindling — The Conjuror Comus — 
 A Duel at Piquet — Torrini proclaimed Conqueror — Revelations 
 — New Catastrophe — Poor Torrini! 43 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 Torrini relates his Life — Treachery of Chevalier Pinetti — A Con- 
 juror through malice — A Race between two Magicians — Death 
 of Pinetti — Exhibits before Pius VII. — The Cardinal's Chrono- 
 meter — Twelve Hundred Francs spent on a Trick — Antonio 
 and Antonia — The most bitter of [Mystifications — Constan- 
 tinople 59 
 
 CHAPTER Vn. 
 
 Continuation of Torrini's History — The Grand Turk orders a Per- 
 formance — A marvellous Trick — A Page cut in two — Pitying 
 Protest of the Harem — Agreeable Surprise — Return to France — 
 Torrini's Son killed — Madness — Decay — My first Performance — 
 An annoying Accident — ^I return home 8 1 
 
CONTENTS. vn 
 
 % CHAPTEK Vm. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 The Prodigal Son — Mademoiselle Houdin — I go to Paris — ^My 
 Marriage — Comte— Studies of the Public — ^A skilful Manager— 
 Eose-coloured Tickets — ^A musky Style — The King of Hearts — 
 Ventriloquism — The Mystifiers mystified — Father Koujol — Jules 
 de Kovere — Origin of the word prestidigitateur . . . .97 
 
 CHAPTEK IX. 
 
 Celebrated Automata — ^A Brazen Fly — The Artificial Man — ^Ai- 
 bertus Magnus and St. Thomas d'Aquinas — Vaucanson — ^His 
 Duck — His Flute-Player — Curious Details — The Automaton 
 Chess-Player — ^Interesting Episode — Catherine H. and M. de 
 Kempelen — I repair the Componium — ^Unexpected Success .112 
 
 *A 
 
 CHAPTEE X. 
 
 An Inventor's Calculations — One Hundred Thousand Francs a 
 Year by an Inkstand : Deception — My new Automata — The 
 First Magician in France : Decadence — I meet Antonio — Bosco 
 — The Trick with the Cups — ^An Execution — Eesurrection of 
 the Criminals — Mistake in a Head — The Canary rewarded . 129 
 
 CHAPTEE XI. 
 
 A Reverse of Fortune — Cookery and Clockwork — The Artist's 
 Home — Invention of an Automaton — Volimtary Exile — A 
 modest Villa — The Inconveniences of a Speciality — Two August 
 Visitors — The Throat of a mechanical Nightingale — The Tiou 
 and the Errrrrrrouit — Seven Thousand Francs earned by making 
 Filings 142 
 
 CHAPTEE XII. 
 
 The Inventive Genius of a Sugar-baker — Philippe the Magician — 
 His Comic Adventures — Description of his Performance — 
 Exposition of 1844 — The King and Eoyal Family visit my 
 Automata 165 
 
Vm CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER Xra. '# 
 
 PAGE 
 
 My proposed Reforms — I build a Theatre in the Palais Royal — 
 Formalities — General Reliearsal — Singular Eflfect of my Per- 
 formance — The Largest and Smallest Theatre in Paris — Tri- 
 bulation — My first Performance — Panic — Discouragement — A 
 Fallible Prophet — Recovery— Success , . , . . 175 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 New Studies — A Comic Journal — Invention of Second Sight — 
 Curious Experiments — An enthusiastic Spectator — Danger of 
 being a Sorcerer — A Philter or your Life — Way to get rid of 
 Bores — An Electric Touch — I perform at the Vaudeville — 
 Struggles with the Incredulous — Interesting Details . . . lOO 
 
 CHAPTER XV. ." -^^ 
 
 Seductions of a Theatrical Agent — How to gain One Hundred 
 Thousand Francs — I start for Brussels — A lucky Two-Sou 
 Piece — Miseries of professional Travelling — The Park Theatre 
 — Tyranny of a Porter — Full House — Small Receipts — Decep- 
 tions—Return to Paris 206 
 
 CHAPTER XVL 
 
 Reopening of my Fantastic Soire'es — Minor Miseries of Good 
 Luck — Inconvenience of a small Theatre— My Room taken by 
 Storm — A gratuitous Performance — A conscientious Audience — 
 Pleasant Story about a Black Silk Cap— I perform at the Chateau 
 of St. Cloud— Cagliostro's Casket— Holidays . . . .225 
 
 CHAPTER XVH. 
 
 New Experiments — Aerial Suspension, &c. — A Performance at 
 the Odeon— A Friend in Need— 1848— The Theatres deserted— 
 I leave Paris for London — Manager Mitchell — Publicity in 
 England— The Great Wizard — A Butter-mould used as a Puflf— 
 Singular Bills— A Prize for the best Pun 238 
 
CONTENTS. II 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 The St. James's Theatre — Invasion of England by French Per- 
 formers — A Fete patronized by the Queen — The Diplomatist 
 and the Sleight-of-Hand Man — Three Thousand Pounds taken 
 at one Haul — I perform at Manchester — The Spectators in the 
 Pillory — What capital Cura^oa! — A Torrent of Wine — A Ca- 
 tastrophe — Performance at Buckingham Palace — A Wizard's 
 Eepast 252 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 An Optimist Manager — Three Spectators in a Room — A magical 
 Collation — The Colchester Public and the Nuts — ^I return to 
 France — I give up my Theatre — A Farewell Tour — I retire to 
 St. Gervais — An Academician's Predictions .... 276 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 Travels in Algeria — Convocation of the Chieftains — Performances 
 before the Arabs — A Kabyle rendered powerless — Invulnera- 
 bility — A Moor disappears — Panic and Flight of the Audience 
 — Reconciliation — The Sect of the Aissaoua — Their pretended 
 Miracles 286 
 
 CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 Excursion in the Interior of Africa — The Abode of a Bash-Aga — 
 A comical Repast — A Soiree of Arab Dignitaries — A Marabout 
 mystified— Tent-life in Algeria— I return to France — A terrible 
 Storm — Conclusion 308 
 
 CHAPTER XXII. 
 A Course of Miracles 328 
 
THE OVEKTUKE. 
 
 'Saint Gervais, near Blois, 
 September, 1858. 
 
 Eight o'clock has just struck : my wife and children are 
 by my side. I have spent one of those pleasant days 
 which tranquillity, work, and study, can alone secure. 
 With no regret for the past, with no fear for the future, 
 I am — I am not afraid to say it — as happy as man can he. 
 
 And yet, at each vibration of this mysterious hour, my 
 pulse starts, my temples throb, and I can scarce breathe, 
 so much do I feel the want of air and motion. I can reply 
 to no questions, so thoroughly am I lost in a strange and 
 delirious reverie. 
 
 Shall I confess to you, reader ? And why not ? for this 
 electrical effect is not of a nature to be easily understood 
 by you. 
 
 The reason for my emotion being extreme at this moment 
 is, that, during my professional career, eight o'clock was 
 the moment when I must appear before the public. Then, 
 with my eye eagerly fixed on the hole in the curtain, I 
 surveyed with intense pleasure the crowd that flocked in 
 to see me. Then, as now, my heart beat, for I was proud 
 and happy of such success. 
 
 At times, too, a doubt, a feeling of uneasiness, would be 
 
Xn THE OVERTURE. 
 
 mingled with my pleasure. "Heavens!" I would say to 
 myself, in terror, " am I so sure of myself as to deserve 
 such anxiety to see me ?" 
 
 But, soon reassured by the past, I waited with greater 
 calmness the signal for the curtain to draw up. I then 
 walked on the stage : I was near the foot-lights, before my 
 judges — but no, I err — before my kind spectators, whose 
 applause I was in hopes to gain. 
 
 Do you now understand, reader, all the reminiscences 
 this hour evokes in me, and the solemn feeling that con- 
 tinually occurs to me when the clock strikes ? 
 
 These emotions and souvenirs are not at all painful to 
 me: on the contrary, T summon them up with pleasure. 
 At times I even mentally transport myself to my stage, in 
 order to prolong them. There, as before, I ring the bell, 
 the curtain rises, I see my audience again, and, under the 
 oluirm of this sweet illusion, I delight in telling them the 
 most interesting episodes of my professional life. I tell 
 them how a man learns his real vocation, how the struggle 
 with difficulties of every nature begins, how, in fact 
 
 But why should I not convert this fiction into a reality ? 
 Could I not, each evening when the clock strikes eight, 
 continue my performances under another form? My 
 public shall be the reader, and my stage a book. 
 
 This idea pleases me: I accept it with joy, and imme- 
 diately give way to the sweet illusion. Already I fancy 
 myself in the presence of spectators whose kindness en- 
 courages me. I imagine they are waiting for me — they 
 are listening eagerly. 
 
 Without further hesitation I begin. 
 
MEMOIES 
 
 ROBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 jMy Birth and Parentage— My Home — The Lessons of Colonel Ber- 
 nard — Paternal Ambition— My first Mechanical Attempts — Had I 
 but a Eat! — A Prisoner's Industry — The Abbe Lariviore — My Word 
 of Honour — Farewell to my darling Tools. 
 
 Ix conformity -witli the traditional custom which expects 
 every man who writes his Memoirs — or, not to use too 
 strong language, his confessions — to display his patent 
 of gentility, I commence by stating to my readers, with a 
 oertain degree of pride, that I was born at Blois, the birth- 
 place of Louis XII., surnamed the " Father of his People," 
 and of Denis Papin, the illustrious inventor of the steam- 
 <3ngine. 
 
 80 much for my native town. As for my family, it 
 would only appear natural, regard being had to the art to 
 which I devoted my life, that I should display in my 
 family tree the name of Eobert le Diable, or of some me- 
 diseval sorcerer ; but, being the very slave of truth, I will 
 content myself with stating that my father was a watch- 
 maker. 
 
 Though he did not rise to the elevation of the Berthouds 
 and the Breguets, my father was reputed to be very skilful 
 in his profession. In fact, I am only displaying our here- 
 ditary modesty when I say that my father's talents were 
 confined to a single art ; for, in truth. Nature had adapted 
 him for various branches of mechanics, and the activity of 
 
 B 
 
2 MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 his mind led him to try them all with equal ardour. An 
 excellent engraver, a jeweller of the greatest taste, he at 
 the same time could carve the arm or leg for some fractured 
 statuette, restore the enamel on any time-worn porcelain, 
 or even repair musical snuff-boxes, which were very 
 fashionable in those days. The skill he evinced in these 
 varied arts at length procured him a most numerous body 
 of customers ; but, unfortunately, he was wont to make 
 any repairs not strictly connected with his o^vn business 
 for the mere pleasure. 
 
 In this house, which I may almost term artistic, and in 
 the midst of tools and implements in which I was destined 
 to take so lively an interest, I was bom and educated. I 
 possess an excellent memory, still, though my reminiscences 
 date back a long way, I cannot remember the day of my 
 bii-tli. I have learned since, however, that it was the 6th of 
 December, 1805. I am inclined to believ ethat I came into 
 the world with a file or a hammer in my hand, for, from 
 my earliest youth, those implements were my toys and 
 delight : I learned how to use them as other children learn 
 to walk and talk. I need not say that my excellent mother 
 had frequently to wipe away the young mechanic's tears 
 when the hammer, badly directed, struck my fingers. As 
 for my father, he laughed at these slight accidents, and 
 said, jokingly, that it was a capital way of driving my pro- 
 fession into me, and that, as I was a wonderful lad, I could 
 not but become an extraordinary workman. I do not 
 pretend that I ever realized the paternal predictions, but 
 it is certain that I have always felt an irresistible inclina- 
 tion for mechanism. 
 
 How often, in my infantile dreams, did a benevolent 
 fairy open before me the door of a mysterious El Dorado, 
 where tools of every description were piled up. The 
 delight which these dreams produced on me were the same 
 as any other child feels when his fancy summons up before 
 him a fantastic country where the houses are made of 
 chocolate, the stones of sugar-candy, and the men of 
 gingerbread. It is difficult to understand this fever for 
 tools ; the mechanic, the artist, adores them, and would 
 ruin himself to obtain them. Tools, in fact, are to him 
 
SENT TO SCHOOL. 3 
 
 what a MS. is to the archasologist, a coin to the antiquary, 
 or a pack of cards to a gambler : in a word, they are the 
 implements by which a ruling passion is fed. 
 
 By the time I was eight years of age I had furnisshed 
 proofs of my ability, partly through the kindness of an 
 excellent neighbour, and partly through a dangerous ill- 
 ness, when my forced idleness gave me leisure to exercise 
 my natural dexterity. This neighbour, M. Bernard, was a 
 colonel on half-pay. Having been a prisoner for many 
 years, he had learned how to make an infinity of toys, 
 which he taught me as an amusement, and I profited so 
 well by his lessons, that in a very short time I could equal 
 my master. I fancy I can still see and hear this old 
 soldier, when, passing his hand over his heavy gray mous- 
 tache, he exclaimed with energetic satisfaction, " \\ hy, the 
 young scamp can do anything he likes." This compliment 
 flattered my childish vanity, and I redoubled my efforts to 
 deserve it. 
 
 With my illness my pleasures ended : I was sent to 
 school, and from that time I had few opportunities for 
 indulging in my favourite tasks. Still, on my holidays, I 
 used to return to my father's workshop with delight, and 
 yet I must have been a great torment to that excellent 
 parent. Owing to my want of skill, I now and then broke 
 some tool, and although I might try to conceal it, the 
 blame was generally laid on me, and, as a punishment, I 
 was forbidden to enter the workshop. But it was of no 
 use attempting to keep me from my hobby ; the prohibi- 
 tion had to be continually renewed. Hence it was thought 
 advisable to attack the evil at the root, and I must be sent 
 away from home. 
 
 Although my father liked his trade, experience had 
 taught him that a watchmaker rarely makes a fortune in a 
 country town : in his paternal ambition he, therefore, 
 dreamed a more brilliant destiny for me, and he formed 
 the determination of giving me a liberal education, for 
 which I shall always feel grateful to him. He sent me to 
 college at Orleans. I was then eleven years of age. 
 
 Let who will sing the praises of school life; for my 
 own part, I can safely state, that, though I was not averse 
 
 B 2 
 
4 MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 to study, the happiest day I spent in our monastic 
 seminary was that on which I left it for good. However, 
 once entered, I accepted my lot with resignation, and be- 
 came in a short time a perfect schoolboy. In my play 
 hours my time was well employed, for I spent the greater 
 portion of it in making pieces of mechanism. Thus I made 
 snares, gins, and mouse-traps ; their excellent arrangement, 
 and perhaps the dainty bait as well, producing me a gi*eat 
 number of prisoners. 
 
 I had built for them a charming open cage, in which 
 I had fixed up a miniature gymnastic machinery. My 
 prisoners, while taking their ease, set in motion a variety 
 of machines, which caused a most agreeable surprise. 
 One of my inventions more especially attracted the ad- 
 miration of my comrades ; it was a method of raising water 
 by means of a pump made almost entirely of quills. A 
 mouse, harnessed like a horse, was intended to set this 
 Lilliputian machine in motion by the muscular strength of 
 its legs; but, unfortunately, my docile animal, though 
 perfectly willing, could not overcome the resistance of the 
 cog-wheels, and I was forced, to my great regret, to lend it 
 a hand. 
 
 ;k " Ah ! if I only had a rat !" I said to myself, in my 
 disappointment, "how famously it would work!" A rat! 
 But how to get one ? That appeared to me an insur- 
 mountable difficulty ; but, after all, it was not so. One 
 day, having been caught in the act of breaking bounds by 
 a monitor, I was awarded twelve hours' imprisonment. 
 This punishment, which I suffered for the first time, pro- 
 duced a violent effect on me : but in the midst of the 
 sorrowful reflections inspired by the solitude, an idea 
 dissipated my melancholy thoughts by offering a famous 
 suggestion. 
 
 I knew that at nightfall the rats used to come from an 
 adjacent church into the cell where I was confined, to 
 regale on the bread-crumbs left by prisoners. It was a 
 capital opj)ortunity to obtain one of the animals I required ; 
 and as I would not let it slip, I straightway set about 
 inventing a rat-trap. My only materials were a pitcher 
 holding water, and, consequently, my ideas were confined 
 
THE RAT-TRAP. 5 
 
 exclusively to this. I, therefore, made the following 
 arrangement. 
 
 I began by emptying my pitcher; then, after putting in 
 a piece of bread, I laid it down so that the orifice was on a 
 level with the ground. My object was to attract the 
 victim by this dainty into the trap. A brick which I dug 
 up would serve to close the opening, but as it was im- 
 possible for me in the darkness to notice the exact moment 
 for cutting off the prisoner's retreat, I laid near the bread 
 a piece of paper, which would rustle as the rat passed 
 over it. 
 
 As soon as night set in, I crouched close to my pitcher, 
 and, holding the brick in my hand, I awaited with feverish 
 anxiety the arrival of my guests. The pleasure I antici- 
 pated from the capture must have been excessive to over- 
 come my timidity when I heard the first leaps of my 
 savage visitors. I confess that the antics they performed 
 round my legs occasioned me great nervousness, for I 
 knew not how far the voracity of these intrepid rodents 
 might extend; still, I kept my ground, not making the 
 slightest movement, through fear of compromising the 
 success of my scheme, and was prepared to offer the assail- 
 ants a vigorous resistance in case of an attack. 
 
 More than an hour passed in vain expectation, and I 
 was beginning to despair of the success of my trap, when 
 I fancied I heard the slight sound I hoped for as a signal. I 
 laid the brick on the mouth of the pitcher directly, and 
 raised it up : the shrill cries inside convinced me of my 
 success, and I began a peean of triumph, both to celebrate 
 my victory and to frighten away my prisoner's comrades. 
 The porter, when he came to release me, helped me to 
 master my rat, by fastening a piece of twine to one of his 
 hind legs, and burdened with my precious booty, I pro- 
 ceeded to the dormitory, where masters and pupils had 
 been asleep for a long time. I was glad enough to sleep 
 too ; but a difficulty presented itself — how should I bestow 
 my prisoner ? 
 
 At length a bright idea occurred to me, fully worthy of 
 a schoolboy : it was to thrust the rat headforemost into one 
 of my shoes. After fastening the twine to the leg of my 
 
6 MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 bed, I pushed the shoe into one of my stockings, and 
 placed the whole in the leg of my trousers. This being 
 jiccoraplished, I believed I could go to bed without the 
 slightest cause for apprehension. The next morning, at 
 five exactly, the inspector took a turn through the dormi- 
 tory to arouse the sleepers. 
 
 " Dress yourself directly," he said, in that amiable voice 
 peculiar to gentlemen who have risen too soon. 
 
 I proceeded to obey, but I was fated to dire disgrace : 
 the rat I had packed away so carefully, not finding its 
 quarters airy enough, had thought proper to gnaw through 
 my shoe, my stocking, and my trouser, and was taking the 
 air through this improvised window. Fortunately, it had 
 not cut through the retaining string, so the rest was a 
 trifle. 
 
 But the inspector did not regard matters in the same 
 light as I did. The capture of a rat and the injury to my 
 clothes were considered further aggravations of my pre- 
 vious oflfence, and he sent in a lengthy report to the head 
 master. I was obliged to appear before the latter dressed 
 in the clothes that bore the proof of my oflfence, and, by an 
 unlucky coincidence, shoe, stocking, and trouser were all 
 injured on the same leg. The Abbe Lariviere (our head 
 master) managed the college with truly paternal care ; ever 
 just, and prone by nature to forgiveness, he was adored by 
 his pupils, and to be out of favour with him was regarded 
 as the severest punishment. 
 
 " Well, Eobert," he said to me, looking kindly over the 
 spectacles which bridged the end of his nose, " I under- 
 stand you have been guilty of grave faults. Come, tell me 
 the whole truth." 
 
 I possessed at that time a quality which, I trust, I have 
 not lost since, and that is extreme frankness. I gave the 
 abbs a full account of my misdeeds, and my sincerity gained 
 me pardon. The head master, after a vain attempt to re- 
 press it, burst into a loud fit of laughter on hearing the 
 catastrophe of my adventures. Still, he ended his gentle 
 lecture in the following words : — 
 
 "I will not scold you any more, Eobert. I believe in 
 your repentance : twelve hours' confinement are sufiicient 
 
THE WORD OF HONOUR. 7 
 
 punishment, and I grant you your release. I will do more : 
 though you are very young, I will treat you as a man — of 
 honour, though — you understand me ? You will pledge me 
 your word not only that you will not commit your old faults 
 again, but, as your passion for mechanics makes you often 
 neglect your lessons, you must promise to give up your 
 tools, and devote yourself henceforth to study." 
 
 " Oh yes, sir, I give you my word," I exclaimed, moved 
 to tears by such unexpected indulgence ; '* and I can 
 assure you you will never repent having put faith in my 
 promise." 
 
 I made up my mind to keep my pledge, although I was 
 fully aware of all the difficulties, which were so many 
 stumbling-blocks in that path of virtue I wished to follow. 
 Much trouble I had, too, at first, in withstanding the jests 
 and sarcasms of the idler of my comrades, who, in order to 
 liide their own bad conduct, strove to make all weak cha- 
 racters their accomplices. Still, I broke with them all. 
 Sharpest pang of all, though, was the sacrifice I made in 
 l3urning my vessels — that is, in putting aside my cages and 
 their contents ; I even forgot my tools, and thus, free from 
 all external distraction, I devoted myself entirely to my 
 Greek and Latin studies. 
 
 The praise I received from the Abbe Lariviere, who 
 prided himself in having noticed in me the stufi" for an 
 excellent scholar, rewarded me for this sublime effort, and 
 I may say I became, thenceforth, one of the most studious 
 and attentive lads in the college. At times, I certainly 
 regretted my tools and my darling machinery ; but, recol- 
 lecting my promise to the head master, I held firm against 
 all temptation. All I allowed myself was to set down by 
 stealth on paper a few ideas that occurred to me, though I 
 did not know whether I should ever have a chance to put 
 them in practice. 
 
 At length the moment arrived for my leaving college ; 
 my studies were completed — I was eighteen years of age. 
 
MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 A Country Idler — Dr. Carlosbach, Conjuror and Professor of Mystifi- 
 cation — The Sand -bag and tlic Stirrup Trick — I turn Lawycr'u 
 Clerk, and the Minutes appear to me very long — A small Automaton 
 
 , — A respectful Protest — I mount a Step in the Office — A Machine oi 
 Porter's Power — The Acrobatic Canaries — Monsieur Rogers Re- 
 monstrances — My Father decides that I shall follow my Bent. 
 
 In the story I have just narrated, only simple events 
 were noticeable — hardly worthy, perhaps, of a man wha 
 has often passed for a sorcerer ; but grant me a few pages* 
 patience, reader, as an introduction to my artistic life, and 
 what you seek in my book will be displayed before your 
 eager gaze. You will know how a magician is produced^ 
 and you will learn that the tree whence my magic st^flf was. 
 cut was only that of persevering labour, often bedewed by 
 the sweat of my brow : soon, too, when you come to witness 
 my labours and my anxious hours of expectation, you will 
 be able to appreciate the cost of a reputation in my myste- 
 rious art. 
 
 On leaving college, I at first enjoyed all the liberty I 
 had been deprived of for so many j^ears. The power of 
 going right or left, of speaking or remaining silent, as 1 
 listed, of getting up sooner or later, according to my fancy, 
 was an earthly paradise for a collegian. I enjoyed this 
 ineffable pleasure to the fullest extent : thus, in the morn- 
 ing — although habit made me wake at five — when the clock 
 announced that once so dreaded hour, I burst into a loud 
 laugh, and ofiered ferocious challenges to any number of 
 invisible superintendents ; then, satisfied by this slight 
 retrospective vengeance, I went to sleep again till break- 
 fast. After that meal I went out to indulge in a pleasant 
 lounge about 4 the streets ; and I preferred walking in the 
 public promenades, for thus I had better chances of finding 
 something to attract my attention. In a word, not an event 
 happened which I did not know, and I was the real ama- 
 teur " penny-a-liner " of my native town. 
 
A COUNTRY IDLER. 9 
 
 Many of these incidents afforded very slight interest. 
 One day, however, I witnessed a scene which produced a 
 lasting effect upon me. One after-dinner, while walking 
 along the side of the Loire, engaged with the thoughts 
 suggested by the falling autumn leaves, I was aroused from 
 my reverie by the sound of a trumpet, evidently blown by 
 a practised performer. It may be easily supposed that I 
 was not the last to obey this startling summons, and a few 
 other idlers also formed a circle round the performer. 
 
 He was a tall fellow, with a quick eye, a sunburnt face, 
 long and crispy hair, and he stemmed his fist in his side, 
 while he held his head impudently high. His costume, 
 though rather " loud," was still cleanly, and announced a 
 man who probably had " some hay in his boots," to use a 
 favourite phrase of gentlemen in the same profession. He 
 wore a maroon-coloured frock-coat, trimmed with large 
 silver frogs, while round his neck was a black silk cravat, 
 the two ends being passed through a jewelled ring, which a 
 millionnaire would not have disdained — had it not unfortu- 
 nately been paste. He wore no waistcoat, but his shirt 
 was remarkably white, and on it glistened a heavy mosaic 
 chain, with a collection of appendages, whose metallic 
 sound loudly announced his every movement. 
 
 I had ample time to make these observations ; for, as the 
 audience collected but slowly, the stranger continued his 
 trumpet overture for a quarter of an hour. At length, when 
 an average crowd had assembled, the trumpet made way 
 for the human voice. The artist laid the instrument on the 
 ground, and walked round majestically to form a ring ; 
 then stopping, he passed his hand through his hair, and 
 began his address. Being little used to this charlatanism 
 in the streets, I regarded the man with confiding admira- 
 tion, and determined not to lose a word of his address. 
 
 " Gentlemen," he commenced, in a firm and sonorous 
 voice, " pray hear me. I am not what I seem to be ; I may 
 say more, I am what I do not seem to be. Yes, gentle- 
 men, yes — confess it — you take me for one of those scurvy 
 beggars who want to draw a few halfpence from your gene- 
 rosity. Well, you may undeceive yourselves. Though you 
 see me on this spot to-day, I tell you that I have only come 
 
10 ' MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 kere for the relief of suiFering humanity in general, then 
 for your welfare in particular, as well as for your amuse- 
 ment." 
 
 Here the orator, whose accent plainly showed that he 
 hailed from the banks of the Garonne, passed his hand once 
 more through his hair, raised his head, sucked his lips, and, 
 assuming an air of majestic dignity, continued : — 
 
 " I will tell you presently who I am, and you will be 
 able to estimate me at my true value : in the mean while, 
 allow me to offer you a slight specimen of my skill." 
 
 The artist, having then formed the circle afresh, placed 
 before him a small table, on which he arranged three tin 
 goblets, so well polished that they might have been taken 
 for silver ; after which he fastened round his waist a red 
 cotton velvet bag, into which he thrust his hands for some 
 minutes— doubtlessly to prepare the tricks he intended to 
 display — and the performance commenced. 
 
 During a long series of tricks, the nutmegs, at first invi- 
 sible, appeared at the finger-ends of the conjuror; then 
 they passed through the cups, under the table, into a spec- 
 tator's pockets, and finally emerged, to the general delight, 
 from the nose of a young looker-on. The latter took the 
 matter quite seriously, and half killed himself with sneez- 
 ing, to see whether a few more spice balls might not be left 
 in his brain. The address with which these tricks were 
 done, and the apparent simplicity of the operator in the 
 execution of these ingenious artifices, produced the most 
 perfect illusion — at least, as far as I was concerned. 
 
 It was the first time I had ever witnessed such a sight : I 
 was stupefied, astounded ! The man who could perform 
 such marvels at his will seemed to me a superhuman being ; 
 hence I saw him put aside his cups with considerable 
 regret. The audience seemed equally charmed ; the artist 
 perceived it, and took advantage of it, by making a sign 
 that he had a few more words to say. Then, resting his 
 hand on the table, he proceeded : — 
 
 *' Ladies and gentlemen! I was very pleased to notice 
 the kind attention you devoted to my tricks, and I thank 
 you for it " (here the conjuror bowed to the ground) ; " and, 
 as I am anxious to prove that you have not to deal with an 
 
DI?. CARLOSBACH. 11 
 
 ungrateful person, I will attempt to repay in full tlie satis- 
 faction you have made me feel. Deign to listen to me for a 
 moment. 
 
 "I promised to tell you what I am : I will now satisfy 
 you." (Sudden change of countenance, and evidence of 
 great self-esteem.) '-You behold in me the celebrated 
 Dr. Carlosbach : the composition of my name reveals to you 
 my Anglo-Francisco-Germanic origin. To praise myself 
 would be like painting the lily ; I will, therefore, content 
 myself with saying that I possess an enormous talent, and 
 that my astounding reputation can only be equalled by my 
 modesty. Elected, by acclamation, member of the most 
 illustrious learned societies through the whole world, I 
 incline before their judgment, which proclaims the supe- 
 riority of my skill in the grand art of curing the human 
 race." 
 
 This address, as strange as it was emphatic, was deli- 
 vered with imperturbable assurance : still I fancied I 
 noticed a twitching of the lips, that revealed the grand 
 doctor's ill-restrained desire to laugh. For all that, I lis- 
 tened attentively to his discourse. 
 
 *' But, gentlemen," he added, " I have said sufficient of 
 myself ; it is time to speak of my works. Learn, then, that 
 I am the inventor of the Vermifuge Balsam, whose sove- 
 reign efficaciousness is indisputable. Yes, gentlemen, the 
 worm, that enemy of the human race — the worm, the 
 destroyer of everything existing — the worm, that obstinate 
 preyer on the living and the dead, is at length conquered 
 by my science ; a drop, an atom of this precious liquor is 
 sufficient to expel this fearful parasite for ever. 
 
 " And, gentlemen, such is the virtue of my marvellous 
 balsam, that it not only delivers man from this frightful 
 calamity during life, but his body has nothing to fear after 
 death. Taking my balsam is a mode of embalming one's 
 bod}^ prior to death ; man is thus rendered immortal. Ah ! 
 gentlemen, were you but acquainted with all the virtues of 
 my sublime discovery, you would rush upon me and tear it 
 from me ; but, as that would be illegal, I check myself in 
 time." 
 
 The orator, in fact, stopped, and dried his brow with one 
 
12 MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 hand, while with the other he motioned to the crowd that 
 ho had not yet ended his discourse. A great number of the 
 audience were already striving to approach the learned 
 doctor : Carlosbach, however, did not appear to notice it, 
 and, reassuming his dramatic posture, he continued as 
 follows : — 
 
 *' But, you will ask me, what can be the price of such 
 a treasure ? can we be rich enough to purchase it ? The 
 moment has now arrived, gentlemen, to make you under- 
 stand the fall extent of my disinterestedness. This balsam, 
 in the discoveiy of which I have worn away my days — this 
 balsam, which sovereigns have purchased at the price of 
 their crown — this balsam, in short, which is beyond all 
 price — well, I make you a present of it !" 
 
 At these unexpected words, the crowd, panting with 
 emotion, lifted up its eager arms, and implored the gene- 
 rosity of the doctor. But, what shameful deception ! 
 Carlosbach — the celebrated Doctor Carlosbach — this bene- 
 factor of humanity, suddenly altered his tone, and burst 
 into an homeric shout of laughter. The arms fell down 
 spontaneously ; the audience looked vacantly in each other's 
 faces. At length one laughed. The contagion spread, and 
 soon everybody was following the conjuror's example. He 
 was the first to stop, and demanded silence : — 
 
 " Gentlemen !" he then said, in a perfectly respectful 
 tone, " do not be angry with me for the little trick I have 
 played you; I wished thus to put you on your guard 
 against those charlatans who daily deceive you, just as I 
 have done, myself. I am no doctor, but simply a conjuror, 
 professor of mystification, and author of a book, in which 
 you will find, in addition to the discourse I have just 
 delivered, the description of a great number of conjur- 
 ing tricks. Would you like to learn the art of amusing 
 yourself in society ? For sixpence you may satisfy your 
 curiosity." 
 
 The conjuror produced from a box an enonnous packet 
 of books; then, going round the crowd, he soon disposed 
 of his wares, thanks to the interest his talent had excited. 
 The exhibition was over, and I returned home with my 
 head full of a world of unknown sensations. 
 
THE STIRRUP TRICK. 13 
 
 It will be readily supposed that I purcliased one of these 
 precious volumes. I hastened to examine it ; but the false 
 doctor continued his system of mystification in it, and, de- 
 spite all my good-will, I could not understand one of the 
 tricks he pretended to explain. However, I had the famous 
 speech I have just quoted as some sort of consolation. 
 
 I made up my mind to lay the book aside and think no 
 more of it ; but the marvels it announced returned to my 
 mind every moment. " Carlosbach !" I said, in my 
 modest ambition, " if I possessed your talent, how happy 
 I should feel !" and, filled with this idea, I decided on 
 taking lessons of the learned professor. Unfortunately, 
 this determination was arrived at too late. When I pro- 
 ceeded to his lodgings, I learned that the conjuror had 
 resorted to his own tricks, and had left his inn the previous 
 evening, forgetting to pay the princely score he had run 
 up. The innkeeper gave me the account of this last mys- 
 tification on the part of the professor. 
 
 Carlosbach had arrived at his house with two trunks of 
 unequal size and very heavy ; on the larger of them was 
 painted " Conjuring Apparatus," on the other, " Clothing." 
 The conjuror, who stated that he had received various in- 
 vitations to perform at the adjacent chateaux, had set off 
 the evening before to fulfil one of these engagements. He 
 had only taken with him one of his trunks, that containing 
 the apparatus ; and it was supposed he had left the other in 
 his room as a security for the bill he had run up. The next 
 day the host, surj^rised at finding his lodger still absent, 
 thought it advisable to place his traps in some safe place. 
 He, therefore, went into his bedroom ; but the two trunks 
 had disappeared, and in their place was an enormous bag- 
 filled with sand, on which was written : 
 
 THE MYSTIFYING BAG. 
 THE STIRRUP TRICK.* 
 
 I continued for some time longer to enjoy the contem- 
 plative life I had been pursuing ; but at last satiet}^ assailed 
 me, and I was quite surprised one day at finding myself 
 
 * This evidently means the same as our duch-and-durras. The 
 stirrup trick is the last " pull " on human credulity. 
 
14 MEMOIRS OF EOBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 wearied of this life of idleness. My father, like a man who 
 could read the human heart, had awaited this moment to 
 talk seriously with me ; he Ihercforo took mo iuside one 
 morning, and said, without further preface, in a kindly 
 voice : — 
 
 " My good boy, you have now quitted college with a 
 sound education, and 1 have allowed you to enjoy fully the 
 liberty to which you seemed to aspire. But you must see 
 this is not sufficient for a livelihood ; you must now enter 
 on the world resolutely, and apply your parts to the pro- 
 fession you wish to embrace. That profession it is now 
 time to choose ; you have doubtlessly some inclination, 
 some bias, and you should let me know it ; speak, then, and 
 you will find me inclined to second your views." 
 
 Although my father had frequently expressed his fears 
 lest I should follow his trade, I thought, after these re- 
 marks, that he had changed his mind, and I joyfully said — 
 
 " Of course I have an inclination, and you cannot be 
 ignorant of it, for it is of very old standing. You know I 
 never wished to be other than " 
 
 My father guessed my thoughts, and would not allow me 
 to finish. 
 
 " I see," he objected, " that you did not understand me, 
 and I must explain my meaning more clearly. My desire 
 is for you to choose a profession more lucrative than my 
 own. Consider, it would be unreasonable to bury the ten 
 years' schooling for which I made such heavy sacrifices in 
 my shop ; remember, too, that after thirty-five years' hard 
 work, I have been hardly able to save sufficient provision 
 for my old age. Then, pray change your resolution, and 
 give up your mania for making a ' parcel of filings.' " 
 
 My father in this merely followed the idea of many 
 parents, who can only see the disagreeable side of their 
 own trade. To this prejudice, I must allow, he added the 
 praiseworthy ambition of the head of a family desirous that 
 his son should rise a step higher on the social ladder than 
 himself. 
 
 As I was utterly ignorant of all other professions or 
 trades save that of a mechanician, I was unable to appre- 
 ciate them, or consequently select one ; hence I remained 
 
EMPLOYED AS COPYING CLERK. t5 
 
 dumb. In vain did my father try to draw an answer from 
 me by explaining the advantages I should derive from 
 being a surgeon or chemist, a barrister or a solicitor. I 
 could only repeat that I placed implicit confidence in his 
 wisdom and experience. This self-denial and passive 
 obedience appeared to touch him ; I noticed it, and, wish- 
 ing to make a final attack on his determination, I said to 
 him — 
 
 " Before making up my mind to any decided choice of 
 profession, allow me to offer one observation. Are you 
 sure that it is your trade which is impossible of extension, 
 or is it owing to the smallness of the town in which you 
 have carried it on ? Let me follow my own bent, I beseech 
 you, and when I have become a good workman by your 
 instruction, I will go to Paris and make a fortune there ; I 
 feel quite convinced I can do so." 
 
 Fearing lest he might give way, my father tried to cut 
 the conversation short by evading a reply to my objection. 
 
 " As you leave it to me," he said, " I advise you to be- 
 come a solicitor ; with your natural parts, aided by appli- 
 cation and good conduct, I am certain you will make your 
 way famously." 
 
 Two days later I was installed in one of the best offices 
 at Blois, and, owing to my caligraphy, I was employed as 
 a copying clerk, and in engrossing from morning till night, 
 though rarely understanding what I was writing. My 
 readers can readily guess that this mechanical work could 
 not long satisfy the turn of my mind : pens, ink, and paper 
 were most unsuitable articles to carry out the inventive 
 ideas which continually occurred to me. Fortunately, at 
 that period, steel pens were unknown ; hence I had a re- 
 source in making my pens, to which I devoted the best 
 part of my time. This simple fact will suffice to give an 
 idea of the deep spleen which weighed upon me like a 
 coating of lead, and I should have certainly fallen ill had 
 I not found more attractive employment. 
 
 Among the mechanical curiosities intrusted to my father 
 for repair, I had noticed a snuff-box, on the top of which a 
 small piece of mechanism attracted my entire attention. 
 The top of the box represented a landscape. On pressing 
 
16 MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 a spring, a hare made its appearance, and went towards a 
 tuft of grass, wliicli it began to crop ; soon after, a sports- 
 man, accompanied by a pointer, emerged from a thicket. 
 ITie miniature Nimrod stopped at the sight of the game, 
 shouldered his gun, and fired ; a noise indicative of the 
 explosion of a fire-arm was heard, and the hare, apparently 
 wounded, disappeared in the thicket, pursued by the dog. 
 
 This pretty piece of mechanism excited my desires in an 
 eminent degree, but I could not hope to possess it, as the 
 owner, in addition to the value he attached to it, had no 
 reason to dispose of it, and, besides, my pecuniary means 
 were insufficient. As I could not make the article my own, 
 I determined at least to keep it in remembrance, and drew 
 a careful plan of it without my fiither's knowledge. This 
 only more inflamed my desires, and I began to ask myself 
 whether I could not make an exact copy of it. 
 
 Seeing no extreme difficulty in this, I rose at daybreak 
 each morning, and, going down to my father's workshop, I 
 worked till the hour when he used to begin work. Then 
 I rearranged the tools exactly as I had found them, locked 
 up my work carefully, and proceeded to my office. The 
 joy I experienced in finding my mechanism act was only 
 equalled by the pleasure I felt in presenting it to my father, 
 as an indirect and respectful protest against the determina- 
 tion he had formed as to my choice of a trade. I had some 
 difficulty in persuading him that I had not been assisted by 
 any one in my worlc ; but when at last I removed his doubts, " 
 he could not refrain from complimenting me. 
 
 "It is a pit^s" he said, thoughtfully, " that you cannot 
 -profit by your turn for mechanism ; but," he added, sud- 
 denly, as if seeking to dispel an idea that troubled liim, 
 *'you had better take no pride in your skill, for it may 
 injure your prospects." 
 
 For more than a year I performed the duties of amateur 
 — that is, impaid — clerk ; and I was then offered a situation 
 by a country solicitor as second clerk, with a small salary. 
 I accepted this unexpected promotion very readily ; but, 
 once installed in my new duties, I found that my employer 
 had deceived me as to their range. The situation I occu- 
 i)ied was that of office-boy, having to run on errands, for 
 
A WAKING APPARATUS. l7 
 
 the first and only clerk could more than attend to the 
 business. I certainly earned some money ; it was the first 
 I had gained by my own labour, and this consideration 
 gilded the pill, which was rather bitter to my pride. 
 Besides, M. iloger (such was my new master's name) was 
 certainly the best fellow in the world. His manner, full of 
 kindness and sympathy, had attracted me the first time I 
 saw him, and I may add that his behaviour towards me 
 was most agreeable during the time I remained in his 
 office. 
 
 This gentleman, the personification of probity, possessed 
 the confidence of the Due d'Avaray, whose estate he 
 managed, and being full of zeal for his noble client's 
 business, he devoted more attention to it than to his office. 
 At Avaray legal business w^as very scarce, and we had 
 hardly enough to fill up our time. For my own part, I 
 had many leisure hours, which my kind master euabled me 
 to employ by placing his library at my service. I had the 
 good fortune to find in it Linnseus's Treatise on Botany, and 
 1 learned the rudiments of that science. 
 
 The study of botany required time, and I could only 
 devote to it the hours prior to the office opening. Un- 
 fortunately, I had become a tremendous sleeper — I hardly 
 know how — and I could not manage to get up before eight 
 o'clock. I resolved to conquer this obstinate somnolency, 
 and I invented a waking apparatus, wliich, from its origin- 
 ality, deserves honourable mention here. 
 
 The room I occupied formed a portion of the Chateau 
 d'Avaray, and was situated over an archway, closed by a 
 heavy gate. Having noticed that the porter opened this 
 gate, which led into the gardens, every morning, the idea 
 occurred to me of profiting by this circumstance to institute 
 an energetic alarum. This is how I managed it. When 
 I went to bed, I fastened to one of my legs the end of a 
 cord, which, passing through my half-opened window, was 
 attached to the upper part of the iron gate. When the 
 porter pushed the gate open, he dragged me, when least 
 expecting it, to the middle of my bedroom. Thus violently 
 roused from sleep, I tried to hold on by the* bedclothes ; 
 but the more I resisted, the more did the pitiless porter 
 
18 MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 push on his side, and I at length woke up to licar liim 
 always abusing the hinges, which he determined to oil 
 before the day was out. Then, I unloosed my leg, and, 
 with my Linnoeus in my hand, I went to interrogate Nature 
 on her admirable secrets, the study of which caused me to 
 spend many pleasant hours. 
 
 As much to please my father as to scrupulously fulfil my 
 duties in my new office, I had promised to pay no more 
 attention to mechanical inventions — for I feared their irre- 
 sistible attraction — and I had religiously kep;t my word. 
 There was, then, every reason to believe that 1 should pass 
 through all my grades creditably, and some day, in my 
 turn, become Maitre Eobert, solicitor, in some country 
 town. But Providence, in his decrees, had traced out a 
 very different route for me, and my stern resolutions were 
 routed by a temptation too powerful for my courage. In 
 our office there was, strangely enoiigh, a magnificent aviary 
 filled with canaries, whose song and plumage were intended 
 to dispel the impatience of a client forced by some accident 
 to wait. This cage being considered a portion of the office 
 furniture, I was bound, as errand-boy, to keep it in a proper 
 state of cleanliness, and provide the food of the denizens. 
 This was the branch of my duties I performed with the 
 greatest zeal : in fact, I bestowed so much care on the 
 comfort and amusement of the birds, that they soon ab- 
 sorbed nearly all my time. 
 
 I began by setting up in this cage a number of mechani- 
 cal tricks I had invented at college under similar circum- 
 stances. I gradually added fresh ones, and ended by 
 making the cage a work of art and curiosity, affording con- 
 siderable attraction to our visitors. At one spot was a 
 perch, near which the sugar and the seed-glass displayed 
 their attractions ; but no sooner had the innocent canary 
 placed its foot on the fatal perch, than a circular cage en- 
 compassed it, and it was kept a prisoner until another bird, 
 perching on an adjoining piece of wood, set loose a spring, 
 which delivered the captive. At another place were baths 
 and pumps ; further on was a small trough, so arranged, 
 that the nearer the bird seemed to draw to it the further off 
 it really was. Lastly, each denizen of the cage was obliged 
 
M. Roger's remonstrances. 19 
 
 to earn its food by drawing forward with its beak small 
 j)asteboard carts. 
 
 The pleasure I felt in carrying out these small schemes 
 soon made me forget I was in a lawyer's office for any 
 other purpose than to be at the beck and call of canaries. 
 The chief clerk drew my attention to it, and added some 
 just remonstrances ; but I had always a protest ready, and 
 continued making daily improvements in the aviary. At 
 length, matters reached such a point, that the supreme 
 authority, that is to say, my master in person, felt it his 
 duty to interfere. 
 
 " Kobert," he said to me, assuming an earnest tone, 
 which he rarely employed towards his clerks, " when you 
 came into my office you were aware it was to devote your- 
 self exclusively to business, and not to satisfy your own 
 thirst for pleasure : warnings have been given you to return 
 to your duty, and you have paid no attention to them ; I 
 ^m, therefore, oblige to tell you that you must either decide 
 on giving up your mechanical fancies, or I must send you 
 home to your father." 
 
 And the worthy Monsieur Eoger stopped, as if to draw 
 breath after the reproaches he had given me, I am sure 
 much against his will. After a moment's silence he re- 
 iissumed his paternal tone, and said to me : — 
 
 " And now, my friend, will you let me give you a piece 
 of advice? I have studied you, and feel convinced you 
 will never be more than a very ordinary clerk, and, conse- 
 quently, a still more ordinary notary, while you might 
 become an excellent mechanician. It would be, then, 
 wiser for you to give up a profession in which you have 
 such slight prospect of success, and follow that for which 
 you evince such remarkable aptitude." 
 
 The kindly tone M. Eoger assumed induced me to open 
 my heart to him. 1 told him of my father's determination 
 to keep me from his own trade, and described to him all 
 the vexation I had felt from it. 
 
 " Your father fancied he was acting for the best," he 
 replied to me, "by putting you in a profession more lu- 
 crative than his own : he thought he should only have a 
 simple boyish fancy to overcome, but I am persuaded it is 
 
 c2 
 
20 MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 an irresistible vocation, against which you should no longer 
 stnigglo. I will see your parents to-morrow, and I have no 
 doubt I shall induce them to change their opinion about 
 your future prospects in life." 
 
 Since I quitted my father's house he had sold his busi- 
 ness, and had retired to a small property he had near Blbis. 
 My master went to see him as he had promised me : a long 
 conversation ensued, and after numerous objections on both 
 sides, the lawyer's eloquence vanquished my father's scru- 
 ples, and he at length yielded. 
 
 "Well," he said, "as he absolutely desires it, let him 
 follow ray trade. And, as I cannot instinct him myself, 
 my nephew, who is a pupil of mine, will act towards my 
 son as I did towards him." 
 
 This news overwhelmed me with joy : it seemed as if I 
 were entering on a new life, and the fortnight I had yet to 
 spend at Avaray seemed to me terribly long. At length I 
 set out for Blois, and the day after my arrival found me 
 seated before a vice, file in hand, and receiving my first 
 lesson in watchmaking from my relative. 
 
 CHAPTEE III. 
 
 My Cousin Kobcrt— The most important Event in my Life— How a 
 Man becomes a Sorcerer — My first Sleight-of-Hand Feat — An utter 
 Failure — Practising the Eye and the Hand — Curious Experiment in 
 Prestidigitation — Monsieur Norict — An Action more ingenious than 
 delicate — I am poisoned — Influence of Delirium. 
 
 Before speaking of my labours in the watchmaker's shop, 
 I must introduce my readers to my ne-sv master. And, in 
 the first place, to set myself right, I wdll say that my 
 cousin liobert, as I used to call him, has been, since my 
 first connection with him, one of my best and dearest 
 friends. It would be difficult, in fact, to imagine a more 
 hajjpy character, a heart more affectionate and devoted. 
 
 With a rare intelligence, my cousin combined other 
 equally valuable qualities. He possessed a graceful ad- 
 dress, which, without flattery, I may say is peculiar to our 
 
MY COUSIN ROBERT. 21 
 
 family, and he was justly considered the first watchmaker 
 in Blois, a town which has long excelled in the horologic 
 art. 
 
 My cousin began by teaching me how to " make filings," 
 as my father called it ; but I required no apprenticeship to 
 learn the use of tools, and hence the outset was not so 
 painful as it is usually to novices. From the beginning of 
 my apprenticeship I was enabled to undertake small jobs, 
 which gained me my master's praise. Yet I would not 
 have it supposed I was a model pupil, for I had still rife in 
 me that spirit of investigation which drew down upon me 
 several reprimands from my cousin, and I could not endure 
 to confine my imagination to the ideas of another person. 
 I was continually inventing or improving. 
 
 My whole life through, this passion— or, if you will, 
 mania— has held sway over me. I never could fix my 
 thoughts on any task without trying to introdnce some 
 improvement, or strike out a novel idea. But this tem- 
 perament — eventually so favourable — was at this peiiod 
 very prejudicial to my progress. Before following my own 
 inspirations and 3aelding to my fancies, I ought to have 
 learned the secrets of my art, and, in fact, dispelled all ideas 
 which were only adapted to make me diverge from the true 
 23rinciples of clockmaking. 
 
 Such was the sense of the paternal observations made 
 now and then by mj^ cousin, and I was obliged to recognize 
 iheir justice. Then I would go to work again with redoubled 
 zeal, though groaning inwardly at the bonds that fettered 
 my genius. In order to aid my progress and afford me 
 relaxation, my master recommended me to study some 
 treatises on mechanics in general, and on clockmaking in 
 particular. As this suited my tastes exactly, I gladly 
 assented, and I was devoting myself passionately to this 
 attractive study, when a circimistance, apparently most 
 simple, suddenly decided my future life, by revealing to 
 me a vocation whose mysterious resources must open avast 
 field for mj inventive and fanciful ideas. 
 
 One evening I went into a bookseller's shop to buy Ber- 
 thoud's " Treatise on Clockmaking," which I kncAv he had. 
 The tradesman being engaged at the moment on matters 
 
22 MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 more important, took down two volumes from the shelves, 
 and handed them to mo without ceremony. On returning 
 home, I sat down to peruse my treatise conscientiously, 
 but judge of my surprise when 1 read on the back of one of 
 the volumes "Scientific Amusements." Astonished at 
 finding such a title on a professional work, I opened it 
 impatiently, and, on miming through the table of contents, 
 my surprise was doubled on reading these strange phrases : 
 
 The way of performing tricJis with the cards — How to guess a 
 person^ s thoughts — To cut off a pigeon's head : to restore it to hfcy 
 &c., &c. 
 
 The bookseller had made a mistake. In his haste, ho 
 had given me two volumes of the Encyclopasdia instead of 
 Berthoud. Fascinated, however, b}'' the announcement of 
 such marvels, I devoured the mysterious pages, and the 
 further my reading advanced, the more I saw laid bare 
 before me the secrets of an art ^for which I was uncon- 
 sciously predestined. 
 
 I fear I shall be accused of exaggeration, or at least not 
 1:^ understood by many of my readers, when I say that 
 tnis discovery caused me the greatest joy I had ever 
 experienced. At this moment, a secret presentiment 
 warned me that success, perhaps glory, would one day 
 accrue to me in the apparent realization of the marvellous 
 and impossible, and fortunately these presentiments did 
 not en-. 
 
 The resemblance between two books, and the hurry of a 
 bookseller, Avere the commonplace causes of the most im- 
 portant event in my life. 
 
 It may be urged that different circumstances might have 
 suggested this profession to me at a later date. It is pro- 
 bable ; but then I should have had no time for it. Would 
 any workman, artisan, or tradesman give up a certainty, 
 however slight it might be, to yield to a passion which 
 would be surely regarded as a mania? Hence my irre- 
 sistible penchant for the mysterious could only be followed 
 at this precise period of my life. 
 
 How often since have I blessed this providential error, 
 without which I should have probably vegetated as a 
 country watchmaker ! My life would have been spent in 
 
FIRST SLEIGHT-OF-HAND TRICK. 23 
 
 gentle monotony ; I should have been spared many suffer- 
 ings, emotions, and shocks : but, on the other hand, what 
 lively sensations, what profound delight would have been 
 sacrificed ! 
 
 I was eagerly devouring every line of the magic book 
 which described the astounding tricks ; my head was a-glow, 
 and I at times gave way to thoughts which plunged me in 
 ecstasy. Still the hours slipped away, and while my mind 
 was indulging in fanciful dreams, I did not notice that my 
 candle had burned down in the socket. How can I describe 
 my disappointment when it suddenly went out ? It was the 
 last candle I possessed ; hence I was forced to quit the sub- 
 lime reahns of magic all for want of a halfpenny taper. At 
 this instant I would have given my whole fortune, were it 
 only for a street lamp. 
 
 I was not exactly in the dark : a dim ray entered my 
 window from a neighbouring lamp ; but, though I made 
 every eifoi-t to read by it, I could not decipher a single 
 word, and was obliged to retire to bed willy-nilly. 
 
 In vain I tried to sleep ; the febrile excitement produced 
 by the book prevented either sleep or rest. I went con- 
 tinually over the passages which had most struck me, and 
 the interest they inspired only the more excited me. Find- 
 ing it impossible to remain in bed, I repeatedly returned 
 to the window, and while casting envious glances on the 
 lamp, I had made up my mind to go down into the street, 
 and read by its light, when another idea occurred to me. 
 In my impatience to realize it I did not wait to dress, but, 
 confining my attire to what was strictly necessaiy, if I 
 may so call a pair of slippers and my drawers, I took my 
 hat in one hand, a pair of pincers in the other, and went 
 down into the street. 
 
 Once there, I proceeded straight to the lamp ; for I must 
 confess, that in my anxiety to profit at once by the sleight- 
 of-hand tricks I had been studying, I intended to conjure 
 away the oil-lamp pi'ovided by the authorities for the safety 
 of the town. The part the hat and pincers were to play in 
 the operation were simple enough : the latter would wrench 
 open the little box containing the end of the cord by which 
 the lamp was raised, and the former would act as a dark 
 
24 MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 lantern, and hide the rays of light which might betray ni}' 
 thoft* 
 
 All prospered famously ; and I was about to retire in 
 triumph, when a miserable incident threatened to rob me 
 of the profits of my trick. At the moment of my siiccess a 
 baker's man overthrew my plans by emerging from the 
 door of his shop. I concealed myself in a dooi*way, and, 
 while striving to hide the light, I waited perfectly motion- 
 less till the unlucky baker retired. But judge of my grief 
 and terror when I saw him lean against the door and 
 calmly smoke his pipe ! 
 
 My position was growing intolerable ; the cold and the 
 fear of detection made my teeth chatter, and, to incieaso 
 my despair, I soon felt the lining of my hat catch fire. 
 There was no time for hesitation : I cnished my failure 
 of a lantern in my hands, and thus put out the fire ; but it 
 was a dreadful sacrifice. My poor hat, the one I wore on 
 Sundays, was smoked, stained with oil, and shapeless. 
 And while I was enduring all these torments, my tyrant 
 continued to smoke witli an air of calmness and comfort 
 which drove me nearly mad. 
 
 It was quite plain I could not stay here till daylight ; 
 but how to escape from this critical situation ? To ask 
 the baker to keep my secret would be running a risk ; 
 while, to return home straight would betray me, for 1 must 
 pass in front of him, and he would be sure to recognize 
 me. The only chance left was to go down a side street 
 and make a detour to reach the house. This I decided on, 
 even at the risk of any one meeting me in my bathing 
 attire. Without delay I took hat and lamp under my arm, 
 for I was forced to remove the proofs of my crime, and I 
 started off" like an arrow. In my trouble, I fancied the 
 baker was after me. I even thought I heard his footfall 
 behind me, and in my anxiety to escape I doubled my 
 speed ; first I turned to the right, then to the left, and 
 went through such a number of streets, that it took me a 
 
 * It will be remembered that in those days French towns were 
 liglited by a lamp suspended in the centre of the highway from a cord 
 attached to two poles. 
 
rUACTISING THE EYE AND HAND. 25 
 
 qiMirter of an hour to regain my room, in a state of perfect 
 collapse, yet glad to have escaped so cheaply. 
 
 It is a painful confession for a man destined eventually 
 to fill a certain part in the annals of conjuring to make, 
 that my trial-piece turned out so lamentably. In fact, to . 
 use a theatrical phrase, it was an utter fiasco. 
 
 Still, I was not at all discouraged ; the next day I 
 regained all my equanimity on finding my precious 
 treatise on " White ; Magic " before me, and I began 
 studying the interesting secrets it contained with great 
 ardour. 
 
 Within a week I knew them all by heart. 
 
 From theory I resolved to proceed to practice ; but, just 
 as was the case with Carlosbach's book, I suddenly met 
 with an obstacle. The author, I will grant, was more 
 conscientious than the Bordelais mystifier : he gave a very 
 plain explanation of his triclvs ; still, he committed the 
 error of supposing his readers possessed of the necessary 
 skill to perform them. Now, 1 was entirely deficient in 
 this skill, and though most desirous of acquiring it, I 
 found nothing in the book to indicate the means. I was 
 in the position of a man who attempts to copy a picture 
 without possessing the slightest notion of drawing and 
 painting. 
 
 In the absence of a professor to instruct me, I was com- 
 pelled to create the principles of the science I wished to 
 study. In the first place, I recognized the fundamental 
 j)rinciple of sleight of hand, that the organs performing 
 the principal part are the sight and touch. I saw that, in 
 order to attain any degree of perfection, the professor must 
 develop these organs to their fullest extent — for, in his 
 exhibitions, he must be able to see everything that takes 
 place around him at half a glance, and execute his decep- 
 tions with unfailing dexterity. 
 
 I had been often struck by the ease with which pianists 
 can read and perform at sight the most difiicult pieces. I 
 saw that, by practice, it would be possible to create a 
 certainty of perception and facility of touch, rendering it 
 easy for the artist to attend to several things simul- 
 taneously, while his hands were busy employed with some 
 
26 MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 complicated task. This faculty I wished to acquire and 
 apply to sleight of hand ; still, as music could not afibrd 
 me the necessaiy elements, I had recourse to the juggler's 
 art, in which I hoped to meet with an analogous result. 
 
 It is well known that the trick with the balls wonder- 
 fully improves the touch, but does it not improve the 
 vision at the same time ? In fact, when a juggler throws 
 into the air four balls crossing each other in various direc- 
 tions, he requires an extraordinary power of sight to 
 follow the direction his hands have given to each of the 
 balls. At this period a corn-cutter resided at Blois, who 
 possessed the double talent of juggling and extracting 
 corns with a skill worthy of the lightness of his hands. 
 Still, with both these qualities, he was not rich, and being 
 aware of that fact, I hoped to obtain lessons from him at a 
 price suited to my modest finances. In fact, for ten francs 
 he agreed to initiate me in the juggling art. 
 
 I practised with so much zeal, and progressed so rapidly, 
 that in less than a month I had nothing more to leam ; at 
 least, I knew as much as my master, with the exception of 
 corn-cutting, the monopoly in which I left him. I was 
 able to juggle with four balls at once. But this did not 
 satisfy my ambition ; so I placed a book before me, and, 
 while the balls were in the air, I accustomed myself to 
 read without any hesitation. 
 
 This will probably seem to my readers very extra- 
 ordinary; but I shall surprise them still more when I say 
 that I have just amused myself by repeating this curious 
 experiment. Though thirty years have elapsed since the 
 time of which I am writing, and though I scarcely once 
 touched my balls during that period, 1 can still manage to 
 read with ease while keeping three balls up. 
 
 The practice of this trick gave my fingers a remarkable 
 degree of delicacy and certainty, while my eye was at 
 the same time acquiring a promptitude of perception that 
 was quite marvellous. Presently I shall have to speak of 
 the service this rendered me in my experiment of second 
 sight. After having thus made my hands supple and docile, 
 I went on straight to sleight of hand, and I more especially 
 devoted myself to the manipulation of cards and palmistry. 
 
EXPERIMENTS IN PRESTIDKUTATIOX. 27 
 
 This operation requires a great deal of practice; for, 
 while the hand is held apparently open, balls, corks, lumps 
 of sugar, coins, &c., must be held unseen, the fingers re- 
 maining perfectly free and limber. 
 
 Owing to the little time at my disposal, the difficulties 
 connected with these new experiments would have been 
 insurmountable, had I not found a mode of practising 
 without neglecting my business. It was the fashion in 
 those days to wear coats with large pockets on the hips, 
 called a la proprietaire, so whenever my hands were not 
 otherwise engaged, they slipped naturally into my pockets, 
 and set to work with cards, coins, or one of the objects I 
 have mentioned. It will be easily understood how much 
 time I gained by this. Thus, for instance, when out on 
 errands my hands could be at work on both sides ; at 
 dinner, I often ate my soup with one hand while I was 
 learning to sauter la coupe with the other — in short, the 
 slightest moment of relaxation was devoted to my favourite 
 pursuit. As no one suspected that my paletot was in some 
 degree a study, this manner of keeping my hands in my 
 pockets began to be regarded as a bad habit I had ac- 
 quired ; but after a few jests on the subject I was left in 
 peace. 
 
 Though my passion for sleight of hand was so intense, 
 I had, however, sufficient command over myself not to 
 displease my master, who never noticed that my thoughts 
 were away from my work, and constantly praised me for 
 my regularity and application. 
 
 At length my apprenticeship was over, and my cousin 
 one fine day stated I was a journeyman, and able to earn 
 wages. I heard this with double pleasure, for I found in 
 it not only greater liberty, but also a chance of improving 
 my finances. Kor Avas I long ere I profited by my ad- 
 vancement ; a situation was oifered me by a watchmaker 
 at Tours, and I proceeded to that town at once. 
 
 My new master was that M. Noriet who afterwards 
 gained some distinction as a sculptor. His imagination, 
 already full of his future works, disdained the ordinary 
 labour of watch-repairing, and he gladly left to his work- 
 men what he called, ironically, the "shoeblack" part of 
 
28 MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-HODDIN, 
 
 the trade. It was for this purpose I joined him, and I 
 received, in addition to board and lodging, 35 fr. a month. 
 Little enough, I grant ; but it was an enormous sum in 
 my eyes, for, since leaving the lawyer's at Avaray, my 
 income had been reduced to a minimum. 
 
 When I say I earned 35 fr., it is merely to mention a 
 round sum ; in reality I never received it net. Madame 
 Noriet, in her quality of an excellent manager, was i3cr- 
 fectly conversant with all matters relative to discount and 
 exchanges ; and thus she had found a way of lessening my 
 wages in a manner as ingenious as it was improper. She 
 used to pay me in crowns of six francs, and as at that time 
 six-franc pieces were only worth 5 fr. 80 c, the lady gained 
 24 sous every month, which I carried to my "profit and 
 loss " account. 
 
 Although my time Avas fully occupied here, I managed 
 to continue my pocket practice ; and I daily noticed with 
 joy the progress I was making. I had learned how to 
 make any object I held in my hand disappear with the 
 greatest ease ; and as for the j^i'^ctice of card tricks, they 
 were only child's play to me, and 1 could produce some 
 delightful illusions. 
 
 I confess to feeling a degree of pride in my humble 
 power of amusing my friends, and I neglected no occasion 
 of displaying it. On Sunday, for instance, after the in- 
 variable game of loto, which was played in this patriarchal 
 family, I gave a small performance of sleight of hand, 
 which enlivened the melancholy victims of this most 
 monotonous of all games. I was honoured with the name 
 of an "agreeable droll," and this compliment delighted 
 me. 
 
 My regular habits, my perseverance, and perhaps a 
 certain degree of gaiety I possessed at the time, had gained 
 me the friendship and sympathy of both my master and 
 mistress. At last I became an indispensable member of 
 the family, and shared in all their amusements. Among 
 these were frequent excursions in the country'. On one 
 of these, on the 2oth of July, 1 828 (I shall never forget 
 that memorable date, as it was all but registered on my 
 tombstone), we went to a fair at an adjacent village. 
 
I AM POISONED. 29 
 
 Before leaving Tours, we had promised to be home to 
 dinner at five; but, finding ourselves much amused, Ave 
 did not keep military time, nor found our way home till 
 eight. 
 
 After enduring the scolding of the cook, whose dinner 
 had got cold, we sat down and ate like people whose 
 appetite has been whetted by a long walk in the open air, 
 and eight or ten hours' fasting. 
 
 Whatever Jeannette might say, everything she sent up 
 was found excellent, except a certain ragout, which eveiy- 
 body declared detestable, and hardly touched. I, however, 
 devoured my share of the dish, without troubling myself 
 the least in the world about its quality. In spite of the 
 jests aroused by my avidity, I asked for a second relay, 
 and would certainly have eaten the whole dish, had not 
 my mistress, with due regard for my health, prevented it. 
 
 This precaution saved my life. In fact, dinner was 
 hardly over and the game of loto begun, than I felt most 
 uncomfortable. I went to my room, where atrocious pains 
 seized upon me, and a doctor was sent for. After a careful 
 investigation, the doctor discovered that a powerful layer 
 of verdigris had formed in the stewpan in which the 
 ragout had been cooked, and said I was poisoned. 
 
 The consequences of this poisoning were most terrible 
 to me : for some time my life was despaired of, but 
 eventually the sufferings seemed to be modified by the 
 gentle care bestowed on me, and I was granted some 
 slight relief. Strangely enough, it was not till this second 
 phase of my illness, when the doctor declared me out of 
 danger, that I was haunted by a certainty of speed}^ death, 
 to which was joined an immoderate desire to end my days 
 in the bosom of my family. This idea— a species of 
 monomania — incessantly assailed me, and I soon had no 
 other thought than that of escaping to Blois. As I could 
 not hope to obtain the doctor's permission to set out, when 
 his most urgent advice was to take care of myself, I deter- 
 mined to take leave. 
 
 At six o'clock one morning, taking advantage of a 
 moment when I was left to myself, I hastily dressed, went 
 down stairs, and found a stage-coach just starting for 
 
30 MtlMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 Blois. I entered the rotonde, in which I happened to be 
 the only passenger, and the coach, lightly laden as it was, 
 soon set off at full gallop. • 
 
 The journey was a horrible martyrdom to me. I was 
 devoured by a burning fever, and my head seemed to be 
 burst asunder by every jolt of the vehicle. In my frenzy 
 I tried to escape my agony, and yet it was continually 
 increasing. Unable to endure longer, I opened the door 
 of the compartment, and leaped, at an imminent risk of 
 my life, on to the high road, where I fell in a state of 
 insensibility. 
 
 I cannot say what happened to me after my fainting-fit ; 
 I can only remember long days of vague and painful 
 existence, that appeared of eternal duration : 1 was in a 
 raging fever ; my dreams were frightful, and I suffered 
 from the most dreadful hallucinations. One of them was 
 incessantly recurring — it seemed as if my head opened 
 like a snuff-box ; a doctor, with tumed-up cuffs, and 
 armed with an enormous pair of iron pincers, drew from 
 my brain roasted chestnuts, which immediately burst like 
 bombs, and scattered myriads of scintillations before my 
 eyes. 
 
 This phantasmagoria gradually faded away, and the 
 illness at length succumbed ; .but my reason was so shaken 
 that it did not avail me. I was reduced to a mechanical 
 existence. If I noticed anything, it seemed veiled in a 
 thick mist, and I could not perform any process of reason- 
 ing. It is true that all I did notice only served to 
 increase the confusion of my ideas. I felt as if being 
 shaken in a carriage, and yet I was in a capital bed, and 
 the room was exquisitely clean. How could I help fancy- 
 ing I was still dreaming ? 
 
 At length, a spark of intelligence was aroused in me, 
 and the first startling impression was produced by the 
 sight of a man standing at my bedside. His features were 
 quite strange to me. Stooping over, he affectionately 
 urged me to swallow a draught. I obeyed ; and he then 
 begged me to keep silent, and remain as calm as I possibly 
 could. 
 
 Unfortunately, my present state of weakness rendered it ; 
 
. A STRANGE DOCTOR. 31 
 
 but too easy to follow this prescription. Still, I tried to 
 guess who this man could be, and consulted my memory. 
 It was quite useless : I could remember nothing since the 
 moment when, yielding to frenzy, I had thrown myself out 
 of the dilio-ence. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 I return to Life — A strange Doctor — Torrini and Antonio : a Conjuror 
 and a Fanatic for Music — A Murderer's Confession — A perambu- 
 lating House — The fair at Angers — A portable Theatre — I witness 
 for the first Time a Conjuring Performance — The blind Man's Game 
 at Piquet — A dangerous Rival — Signor Castelli eats a Man alive, 
 
 I AM by no means a fatalist ; and yet I cannot refrain from 
 remarking here that many events in human life seem to 
 encourage the views of fatalists. 
 
 Suppose, dear reader, that, on leaving Blois to proceed 
 to Tours, destiny had opened before me one of the fairest 
 pages of my life, I should certainly have been delighted 
 at such a glorious future, but in my heart I should have 
 been inclined to doubt its realization. In fact, I set out as 
 a simple workman, with the intention of making a tour of 
 France. This journey would have occupied much time, as 
 I intended to remain a year or two in every city I visited, 
 and France is large ! Then, when I considered myself 
 skilful enough, I would return home and set up as a watch- 
 maker. 
 
 But fate decided otherwise, and I must be drawn back 
 to my real " groove " when I tried to escape from it. The 
 means employed were a poisoning, which turned me mad, 
 and hurled me lifeless on the high road. But I was going 
 to recall my reminiscences after my fortunate catastrophe, 
 and I will take up the story from the point where I left 
 off. 
 
 What had happened since my fainting fit ; where was I ; 
 why did this man treat me so kindly ? I longed for a so- 
 lution of these problems, and I should certainly have cross- 
 questioned my host, had it not been for the earnest advice 
 
32 MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOQDIN. 
 
 lie had just given me. As thouglit, however, was not for- 
 bidden, I tried to form a satisfactory conclusion from sur- 
 rounding objects. 
 
 The room I was in might be three yards long by two 
 broad. The walls were made of polished oak; on either 
 side was a small window with muslin curtains ; while four 
 walnut chairs, shelves serving as tables, and my excellent 
 bed, composed the furniture of this moving room, which 
 bore a close resemblance to the cabin of a steamboat. 
 
 There must also be two other compartments, for, to my 
 left, I saw my doctor frequently disappear behind two red 
 damask curtains, where I heard him moving about, while 
 to my right I heard, through a thin j)artition, a voice en- 
 couraging the horses. This circumstance made me con- 
 clude I was in a carriage, and that the latter voice belonged 
 to the driver. 
 
 I already knew that hero's name, as I had often heard tho 
 person I presumed to be his master use it. It was Antonio : 
 and he was, at any rate, a splendid musician, for he was 
 continually singing pieces from Italian operas, which lie 
 broke off to swear harmlessly at his steeds. As for the 
 master, he was a man of about fifty, above the average 
 height, and his face, though sad and serious, displaj^ed a 
 degree of kindness which prepossessed me. His long black 
 hair fell on his shoulders in natural curls, and he was 
 dressed in a blouse and trousers of unbleached cloth, with 
 a yellow silk pocket-handkerchief as cravat. But nothing 
 in all this served to tell me what he was, and my surprise 
 was increased by finding him constantly at my side, and 
 nursing me like the fondest of mothers. 
 
 A day had elapsed since his recommendation to keep 
 silent ; I had gained a little strength, an^ fancied myself 
 strong enough to talk ; I was, therefore, going to begin, 
 when my host, guessing my intention, prevcTited me. 
 
 *' I can imagine," he said, " your impatience to knoAv 
 where you are and whom with ; nor will I conceal from 
 you that I am equally curious to learn the circumstances 
 that led to our meeting. Still, in regard for your health, 
 the responsibility of which I have assumed, I must ask you 
 to be patient for one night more ; to-morrow, I believe. 
 
A CONJUROR AND A FRIEND. 33 
 
 we sliall be able to talk as long as you like, without any 
 risk." 
 
 As I had no serious objection to raise, and as I had been 
 wont for some time to obey all my strange doctor ordered, 
 I yielded. The certainty of soon holding the key to the 
 enigma secured me a peaceful sleep, whose good effects I 
 noticed on waking. Hence, when the doctor came to feel 
 my pulse, he was surprised at the progress I had made in 
 a few hours, and, without awaiting my questions, he said, 
 as if replying to the mute inquiry my eyes made : — 
 
 " Yes, I will satisfy your just curiosity : I owe you an 
 explanation, and you shall not wait any longer. My name 
 is Torrini, and I am a conjuror by profession. You are in 
 my house — that is, in the carriage I usually employ as my 
 domicile. Y^ou will be surprised, I dare say, to learn that 
 tlie bedroom you now occupy can be lengthened into a 
 theatre, and in that room behind the red curtains is the 
 stage on which my apparatus is arranged." 
 
 At the word "conjuror" I could not repress a start of 
 satisfaction, which my sorcerer probably did not notice, 
 ignorant as he was that he had before him one of the most 
 fervent adepts of his profession. 
 
 " As for yourself," he went on, " I need not ask you any 
 questions : your name, trade, as well as the cause of your 
 illness are known to be, for I consulted your livret, and 
 some letters I found on you, in my desire to benefit you. 
 I must now tell you, though, all that has happened since 
 you lost consciousness. After giving some representations 
 at Orleans, I was proceeding to Angers, where the fair 
 will shortly begin, when, at some distance from Amboise, 
 I found you lying insensible, with your face to the ground. 
 Fortunately for you, I was then taking my morning walk 
 by the horses' side, and this circumstance saved you being 
 run over. By Antonio's help I carried you to my bed, and 
 my knowledge of medicine restored you to life. But, my 
 j)Oor fellow ! the fever caused you to make the most terrible 
 ■outbreaks ; you threatened me continually, and I had the 
 greatest difficulty in mastering you. At Tours I would 
 have gladly stopped to call in a doctor, for your situation 
 was critical, and I had not practised for many years :— but 
 
34 MEMOIRS OF EOBERT-imUDIN. 
 
 my hours were counted : I must arrive in time at Angers, 
 where I wish to choose a good spot for my exhibition, and 
 I had a strange fancy I should save your life, which has 
 proved tnie." 
 
 Not knowing how to thank this excellent Torrini, I 
 offered him my hand, which he pressed firmly; but — 
 must I confess it — I was checked in the effusion of my 
 gi-atitude by a thought which I deeply regretted later. 
 
 " To what motive," I asked myself, " can I attribute 
 this sudden affection?" This feeling, however sincere it 
 might be, must have some cause, and in my ingi-atitude I 
 sought whether my benefactor did not conceal some in- 
 terested design behind his apparent generosity. Torrini, 
 as if he had guessed my thoughts, continued, in a kindly 
 tone : — 
 
 " You expect a fuller explanation ? Well, however 
 painful it may be to me, I will give it. It is this — 
 
 " You are surprised that a mountebank, a man belong- 
 ing to a class not generally erring on the side of sensi- 
 bility, should have evinced such compassion for your 
 sufferings, but your surprise will cease, my boy, on learn- 
 ing that this compassion is produced by the sweet illusion 
 of paternal love." 
 
 Here Torrini stopped an instant, tried to recover him- 
 self, and then proceeded : — 
 
 *' I had a son, a beloved son ; he was my hope, my life, 
 my happiness ; but a dread fatality robbed me of him : he 
 died, and, terrible to say, he was assassinated, and his 
 murderer stands before you !" 
 
 At this unexpected confession I could not repress a start 
 of horror ; the cold drops beaded on my face. 
 
 *' Yes, yes, his murderer !" Torrini went on, his voice 
 growing gradually firmer: "and yet the law could not 
 punish me; it left mo life. In vain I accused myself 
 before my judges ; they treated me as a maniac, and my 
 crime was regarded as accidental homicide. But what do 
 I care, after all, for their judgment? Whether through 
 carelessness, or imprudence as they say, my poor Giovanni 
 is not the less lost to me, and I shall reproach myself with 
 his death my life long." 
 
, A THILANTHROPIC ASSASSIN. 35 
 
 Torrini's voice was drowned by his sobs. He remained 
 for some time with his hands before his eyes ; then, making 
 an effort, he continued,' in a calmer tone :— 
 
 " To spare yon emotions that might prove dangerous in 
 your present state, I will abridge the narrative of the mis- 
 fortunes to which this event was only a terrible prelude. 
 What I have said Mali suffice to explain the natural cause 
 of my sympathy towards you. When I first saw you, I 
 was struck by the likeness you bore in age and height to 
 my unhappy boy. I even fancied I could trace a certain 
 resemblance in your face, and, jdelding to this illusion, I 
 decided on keeping you near me, and nursing you as if you 
 were my own child. You can now form an idea of the 
 agony I endured during the week when I was compelled 
 to despair of your restoration to life. But Providence, 
 taking pity on us both, has saved you. You are now 
 quite convalescent, and in a few dajs, I trust, will be 
 perfectly i-ecovered. Such, my boy, is the secret of the 
 affection I displayed towards you." 
 
 Deeply moved by the father's misfortunes, and touched 
 by the tender care he had bestowed on me, I could only 
 express my gratitude in half-broken phrases, for I was 
 almost stifled by emotion. Torrini, also feeling the ne- 
 cessity of shortening this painful interview, went out, 
 promising to return so(jn. 
 
 No sooner was I alone than a thousand thoughts crossed 
 my mind. This mysterious and tragical event, the thought 
 of which seemed to overthrow Torrini's reason ; this crime 
 of which he accused himself so persistently ; this verdict 
 whose justice he disputed, perplexed me in the highest 
 degree, and gave me a great desire to obtain more complete 
 details about this domestic drama. Then I asked myself 
 how a man possessing so agreeable a countenance, who did 
 not lack either judgment or talent, and who joined to a 
 solid education a readiness of conversation and distin- 
 guished manners, could have thus sunk to the lowest stage 
 of his profession ? 
 
 While absorbed in these thoughts, the vehicle stopped ; 
 we had arrived at Angers. Torrini left us, in order to 
 obtain the mayor's leave to perform ; and so soon as he had 
 
 d2 
 
36 MEMOIRS OF ROBEIIT-IIOUDIN. ' 
 
 succeeded, lie prepared to occupy the spot allotted to him. 
 As I have already stated, the room I occupied was to be 
 transformed into a theatre; hence I was carried to an 
 adjacent inn, and placed in a capital arm-chair close to an 
 open window. The weather was glorious ; the sun's bene- 
 ficent rays seemed to impart fresh life to me, and I began 
 to lose that egotistic indifference which a lengthened 
 illness usually produces. 
 
 I could see Antonio and his master, with their sleeves 
 tucked up, working at the theatre. In a fow hours our 
 residence was completely transformed ; the moving house 
 had become a charming room. The arrangement of this 
 singular vehicle is so stamped on my memory, that T can 
 still supply an exact description of it, and 1 will fill *up 
 the details I have already given of it. 
 
 The bed on which 1 had lain was drawn up through a 
 trap in the ceiling, where it occupied a very small space. 
 If clothes or linen were required, an adjoining trap was 
 opened, and, by means of a ring, a cliest of drawers was 
 produced as if by magic. A similar process revealed a 
 small chimney, which, by a peculiar arrangement, expelled 
 the smoke below the hearth. Lastly, the larder, cooking- 
 range, and other accessories of the household were ready 
 to hand, and could be easily restored to their respective 
 places. This strange furniture occupied all the space 
 between the wheels, so that the room, though amply fur- 
 nished, was not crowded. 
 
 But I was most surprised to see the vehicle, which was 
 scarcely six yards long, suddenly grow twice that length. 
 This was most ingeniously contrived : the body was double, 
 and could be pulled out like a telescope. This prolonga- 
 tion, supported by trestles, was quite as secure as the rest 
 of the edifice. The partition, dividing the rooms off", had 
 been removed, so that they now formed but a single apart- 
 ment. The public entered on this side, and a staircase led 
 to the door, before which an elegant marquee foimed a ves- 
 tibule, where the tickets were issued. Lastly, a scaffold- 
 ing was erected over the front, which represented a 
 stuccoed house. 
 
 The sight of this machine excited my imagination, and I 
 
CASTLE BUILDING, ' 37 
 
 briilt castles in the air which I was never to inhabit. I, 
 too, would have a similar vehicle, though rather smaller, 
 as my exhibition would be different. 
 
 Here I must make room for a parenthesis, to supply an 
 explanation I think necessary. I have spoken so much of 
 sleight of hand, that it might be supposed I had quite 
 given up all thoughts about mechanism. On the contrary, 
 I still passionately loved that science ; but I had mollified 
 its application, since the love of the marvellous had in- 
 flamed my imagination. I proposed to call to my aid 
 automata, which I would eventually 'build ; then I would 
 traverse the whole of Europe, perhaps the world, gaining 
 an ample amount of honour, pleasure, and profit. 
 
 While engaged with these pleasant dreams I regained 
 my health and strength, and hoped that Torrini would 
 soon allow me to be present at one of his performances. 
 In fact, he soon offered me an agreeable surprise, for, one 
 evening, he led me to his theatre, and installed me on the 
 first row of seats, grandly denominated "the stalls." 
 Judging by my own enthusiasm, I expected the theatre 
 would be thronged so soon as the doors opened, but, to my 
 groat surprise and regret, the room was not more than half 
 full. 
 
 The hour fixed for commencing at length arrived ; the 
 bell rang thrice, the curtains were drawn back, and an 
 exquisite little stage was visible. The most striking thing 
 was the entire absence of all that apparatus by which many 
 performers compensate for their lack of skill, while, by a 
 graceful innovation, a few candles, artistically arranged, 
 were substituted for that dazzling glare which, at the 
 period of which I write, was the indispensable ornament of 
 all performances of " amusing science." 
 
 Torrini appeared, walked towards the public with great 
 ease of manner, made a deep bow, then demanded the 
 indulgence of the spectators, and ended by paying a com- 
 pliment to the ladies. This slight address, though uttered 
 in a cold and melancholy tone, received a few encouraging 
 bravos from the audience. 
 
 The performance commenced in the most perfect silence ; 
 everybody seemed inclined to devote all attention to it. I 
 
3:8 MEMOIRS OF BOBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 could hardly breathe, in my desire not to lose a single 
 word or gesture. 
 
 i will not describe the several tricks I saw; iliey all 
 possessed extraordinary interest for me ; but Torrini ap- 
 peared to excel in card tricks, lie possessed two most 
 precious qualities in the exercise of this art : these were 
 extreme skill, and an incredible boldness of execution. To 
 these he added a most aristocratic way of touching the 
 cards ; his white and carefully-tended hands seemed hardly 
 to rest on them, and his tricks were so artistically per- 
 formed that the audience involuntarily bestowed a sym- 
 pathizing confidence upon him. Sure of the effect he 
 would produce, he performed the most dif&cult " passes " 
 with a coolness no one could expect him to possess ; and 
 this produced the most successful results. To close the 
 performances, Torrini requested the audience to choose 
 some one to play a game of piquet with him, and a gentle- 
 man immediately stepped on the stage. 
 
 " Pardon me, sir," said Torrini, " but it is indispensable, 
 for the success of the experiment, that I should know your 
 name and profession." 
 
 " Nothing easier, sir. My name is Joseph Lenoir, at 
 your service; and my profession is that of dancing- 
 master." 
 
 Any other than Torrini would have made some jest on 
 the name and profession of this rival of Vestris ; but he 
 did nothing of the sort. He had only asked this question 
 to gain time, for he never indulged in any mystification ; 
 so "he merely added : — 
 
 '* I thank you, sir, for your kindness; and now we know 
 who we are, we can place confidence in each other. You 
 have come to play a game of piquet with me ; but do you 
 understand the game thoroughly ?" 
 
 " I flatter myself I do, sir." 
 
 " Ah ! ah !" Torrini said, with a laugh: " Pray do not 
 flatter yourself till we have played our game. Still, not 
 to lower your self-esteem, I will allow you to be an ex- 
 cellent player ; but that will not prevent jou losing the 
 game, although the chances are all in your favour. Listen 
 to me carefully; the trick I am going to perform, and 
 
A GAME OF PIQUET. 39 
 
 wHcli is called the " blind man's game of piquet," requires 
 that I should be blinded, so have the goodness to bandage 
 my eyes carefully." 
 
 M. Lenoir, who, I may mention, wore spectacles, was 
 very distrustful, hence he took extraordinary precautions 
 to accomplish his task. First, he covered the patient's 
 eyes with tow, over which he fastened three thick band- 
 ages ; and, as if this fourfold covering were not enough to 
 blind his opponent, he fastened an enormous shawl round 
 his head. I know not how Torrini kept from suffocation 
 beneath these heavy bandages ; for my part, the perspira- 
 tion ran down my face at seeing him so muffled up. Not 
 knowing all the resources this skilful performer had at 
 command, I was rather fearful as to the result of the ex- 
 periment, and my alarm reached its climax when I heard 
 him address his opponent as follows : — 
 
 " Monsieur Lenoir, have the kindness to sit down oppo- 
 site me at this table. I have still a small service to ask 
 you before we begin our game. You have quite deprived 
 me of my sight, but that is not enough. You have now to 
 bind my hands, so that I may be quite incapable." 
 
 M. Lenoir raised his spectacles, and looked at Torrini 
 as if stupefied ; but the latter, quietly placing his arms on 
 the table, and crossing his thumbs, said, " Now, sir, fasten 
 them securely." 
 
 The dancing-master took the piece of whipcord and per- 
 formed his task as conscientiously as he had done the first 
 part. 
 
 "Am I now blinded, and deprived of the use of my 
 hands ?" Torrini asked his vis-a-vis. 
 
 " I am certain of it," Joseph Lenoir replied. 
 
 " Well, then, to begin our game. But tell me first in 
 what suit you would like to be repiqued ?" 
 
 " In clubs." 
 
 " Very good; now deal the cards by twos or threes, as 
 you please. \A hen they are dealt out, I will leave you to 
 select the hand you think will enable you best to prevent a 
 xepique." 
 
 All the time these explanations and preparations lasted 
 the audience remained motionless and silent, not knowing 
 
40 MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOUDIX. 
 
 whether a mystification or a real trick were intended. 
 Now, on seeing the dancing-master shuffle the cards, there 
 could be no further doubt ; hence all rose to command a 
 view of the stage, and a great number of spectators even 
 surrounded the table. I had also drawn near, and, to mj' 
 great delight, secured a front place. 
 
 Profound silence in the room. 
 
 " The cards are shuffled, please to cut !" the dancing- 
 master said, in an ironical tone, as if secure of victory. 
 
 " AVillingly," Torrini replied. And though hampered in 
 liis movements, he soon satisfied his opponent. 
 
 The cards having been dealt, M. Lenoir decided on 
 keeping those before him. 
 
 " Very good!" said Torrini. " You wished, I think, to 
 be repiqued in clubs ?" 
 
 " Yes, sir." 
 
 " Now follow my play. I throw out the sevens of 
 spades, hearts, and diamonds, and my two eights ; tho 
 cards I take in give me a quint in clubs, fourteen in 
 queens, and fourteen in kings, with which I repique you. 
 Pray count and verify, sir." 
 
 Torrini spoke the truth. Hearty shouts of applause 
 greeted his success, while jokes were cut at the expense of 
 the poor dancing-master, who hurried from the stage in a 
 state of pitiable confusion. 
 
 The performance over, I expressed to Torrini the pleasure 
 his tricks caused me, and paid him some sincere compli- 
 ments on the skill he had evinced during the whole even- 
 ing, and specially in his last trick. 
 
 " These compliments are the more flattering," he replied, 
 with a smile, " as I know now they are paid me, if not by 
 a fellow-artist, at least by an amateur, who, I am certain, 
 already possesses some degree of skill in the profession." 
 
 I know not which of us, Torrini or myself, was the more 
 charmed by the compliments we exchanged ; at any rate, 
 I felt most sensibly the favourable opinion he had formed 
 of my talents. One thing, however, perplexed me : I had 
 never said a word to Torrini about my sleight-of-hand- 
 fancies : how could he have found them out ? 
 
I AM FOUND OUT. 41 
 
 He read my thoughts, and added : — 
 
 "You are surprised at m}^ detecting your secret? and 
 you would like to know how I did so ? I am happy to tell 
 you. My room is small ; hence it is easy for me, when on 
 the stage, to look at every face, and judge the various 
 impressions I produce on the spectators. 1 observed you 
 particularly, and while watching the direction of your 
 eyes, 1 could judge what was passing in your mind. 
 Thus, when I indulged in some amusing paradox, to 
 draw public attention away from the side where the trick 
 was to be performed, you alone escaped the snare, and 
 kept your eyes fixed on the right spot. As for my piquet 
 trick, though I could not observe you while I was per- 
 forming it, I have reasons to be assured that you did not 
 know it." 
 
 " You have guessed perfectly right, my dear magician, 
 and I cannot deny that in my leisure hours I have amused 
 myself with some of these tricks, for which I always felt 
 great inclination." 
 
 " Inclination ! Allow me to say that is not the proper 
 word in your case, my dear lad ; yours is a true passion. I 
 base my opinion on the following observations. This even- 
 ing, from the moment of the curtain rising, your searching 
 eye, your agitated face and half-parted lips, denoted the 
 state of excitement you were in. You looked like a gourmet 
 just sitting down to a well-covered board, or a miser gloat- 
 ing over his treasure. Do you think that with these signs 
 I need be a sorcerer to discover the sway conjuring exercises 
 over your mind ?" 
 
 I was about to reply, when Torrini drew out his watch, 
 and said to me, *' Come, young gentleman, it is growing 
 late; it is high time for a convalescent to seek his rest. 
 We will continue our conversation at a better time." 
 
 With these words my doctor led me to my room, and, after 
 counting my pulse, which appeared to satisfy him, retired. 
 In spite of the pleasure I felt in talking, I was not ill 
 pleased to find myself alone, for I had a thousand souvenirs 
 to evoke. I wished to summon up again the experiments 
 that had struck me most; but it was all in vain. One 
 thought mastered all the rest, and produced a strange 
 
42 MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 sinking in my heart. I tried, without Buccess, to explain 
 the motives why the public neglected Torrini's interesting 
 perfo nuances. 
 
 This motive Antonio explained to me afterwards, and 
 it is too curious to bo passed by in silence. Besides, I 
 have hero an opportunity to introduce my readers to a 
 very remarkable specimen of the great family of mounte- 
 banks. 
 
 I have said that we reached Angers at fair time ; and 
 among the numerous providers of amusement who solicited 
 the presence and money of the Angevins, was another con- 
 juror, known as Castelli. 
 
 He was no more an Italian than was Torrini. I shall 
 presently give Ton-ini's real name, and the reasons that 
 caused him to change it for the one we know him by ; as 
 for the other conjuror, he was a Norman by birth, and only 
 assumed the name of Castelli in conformity with the custom 
 of most conjurors of the day, who thought an Italian name 
 more attractive. 
 
 Castelli was far from possessing Torrini's marvellous 
 address, and his performances offered no special interest 
 as far as sleight of hand was concerned ; but he thought 
 with Figaro that " skill was better than learning," and he 
 proved it by his repeated successes. In truth, this man 
 was the incarnation of charlatanism, and he spared nothing 
 to pique public curiosity. Each day some new prodigy was 
 announced on his enormous posters. It was in reality only 
 a deception, very often a mystification for the audience; 
 but his treasury was always filled to repletion — hence, the 
 trick was good. If the public felt wi'oth at being duped, 
 Castelli knew the art of escaping from the dilemma, and 
 drawing the laughers on his side ; he boldly made some 
 jest in bad Italian, at which the pit could not help laugh- 
 ing, and was thus disarmed. 
 
 Besides, it must be remembered that at this period con- 
 juring was not so respectable as it is now : people went to 
 an exhibition of that sort to laugh at the conjuror's victims, 
 even if themselves exposed to his attacks. My readers 
 ought to have seen the mystifier par excellence, the celebrated 
 physico-ventriloquist of the age, Conite, to form an idea of 
 
SIGNOR CASTELLI. 43 
 
 the cool way in which the public was then treated. This 
 performer, though so graceful and gallant towards ladies, 
 was merciless to men. According to his notions, the cava- 
 liers (as they were then called) were predestined to supply- 
 amusement for the fair sex. But I must not poach on 
 
 the biography of the " natural philosopher to the king," 
 which will hereafter find a place in my volumes. 
 
 The same day on which I had witnessed Torrini's per- 
 formance, Castelli's bills contained an astounding state- 
 ment, well adapted, I grant, to tempt public curiosity. 
 The professor pledged himself to eat a man alive, and if he 
 did not succeed to the satisfaction of his audience, he would 
 hand over all the receipts to the mayor for distribution 
 among the poor. This seductive appeal had drawn the 
 whole town ; crowds collected round the show, and persons 
 who arrived too late were glad to pay double entrance 
 money. But the new trick played by the conjuror was 
 quite worthy of all that had preceded it. 
 
 Castelli, after perfoi-ming several tricks of second-rate 
 interest, at length arrived at the one which caused even the 
 calmest spectator to throb with impatience. 
 
 "Gentlemen," he then said, addressing the audience, "we 
 will now proceed to the last trick. I promised to eat a 
 man alive for my supper, and I will keep my word. Will 
 the courageous spectator who wishes to serve as a repast to 
 me " (Castelli pronounced this word with the expression of 
 a perfect cannibal) " take the trouble to mount on the 
 stage ?" 
 
 Two victims immediately presented themselves. By acci- 
 dent they offered a perfect contrast, and Castelli, who un- 
 derstood the art of producing an effect, skilfully profited by 
 it. He placed them side by side, with their faces turned 
 to the audience, then after surveying one of them, a tall, 
 bilious-looking fellow, from head to foot, he said to him, 
 with affected politeness — 
 
 " I do not wish to insult you, sir, but I am sorry to tell 
 you that, as regards my food, I am quite of M. le Cure's 
 opinion — you understand me ?" 
 
 The tall thin man appeared for a moment as if trying to 
 guess a riddle, and ended by scratching his ear, — a gesture 
 
44 MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 which, among all nations, civilized or barbarous, signifies, 
 " I do not understand." 
 
 " I will explain, then," Castelli continued. *' You know 
 that M. le Cure does not like bones ; at least, so they say at 
 forfeits, and I assure you I share the cure's antipathy in 
 this respect. You can retire, then ; I will not detain you." 
 And Castelli began bowing to liis visitor, who hastened 
 back to his seat. 
 
 *' Now, then, for us two," the conjuror said, turning to 
 the one who remained. He was a tall, chubby fellow, with 
 rosy cheeks, who seemed purposely made for the repast of 
 an epicurean cannibal. 
 
 "Well, my stout friend, so vou consent to be eaten 
 alive?" 
 
 "Yes, sir, I am quite willing, and came here for that 
 purpose." 
 
 "Ah! ah! that is capital!" (Here Castelli licked his 
 lips like a gourmet, whose mouth waters at the sight of a 
 dainty dish.) " As I have a powerful appetite, we will 
 begin directly." 
 
 At this moment a gigantic cruet-stand was brought in. 
 The stout youth regarded it with surprise, as if trying to 
 discover the use of this strange utensil. 
 
 " Don't mind it, pray !" said Castelli. " I am very fond 
 of hot dishes, so allow me to pepper and salt you in my 
 usual fashion." 
 
 And he began covering the unhappy man with a white 
 powder, which, adhering to his hair, face, and clothes, soon 
 gave him an extraordinary appearance. The stout youth, 
 who at the beginning had triod to rival the conjuror's 
 gaiety, did not laugh now, and seemed earnestly to desire 
 the end of the jest. 
 
 "Now, then!" Castelli added, rolling his eyes about 
 ferociously, " kneel down, and hold your hands over your 
 head. Very good, my friend : it really looks as if you had 
 never followed any other trade than being eaten alive. 
 Now, then, say your prayers, and I will begin. Are you 
 ready ?" 
 
 " Yes, sir," the stout lad muttered, turning quite yellow 
 with emotion, " I am ready." 
 
AN AUDIENCE TRICKED. 4'5 
 
 Castelli then took the end of the patient's thumb in his 
 mouth, and bit it so hard, that the latter, as if working by 
 a spring, jumped up, shouting energetically. 
 
 " Confound it, sir, take care ; you hurt me !" 
 
 " What I I hurt you ?" Castelli said, with perfect calm- 
 ness. " What will you say, then, when I reach your head ? 
 It was really absurd of you to cry out like a baby at the 
 first mouthful. Come, be reasonable : let me go on. I am 
 frightfully hungry, and long for my supper." 
 
 And Castelli, thrusting him by the shoulders, tried to 
 make him take his first position. But the young man 
 resisted with all his strength, as he cried, in a voice palsied 
 with fear, " I won't have it : I tell you I won't have it. 
 You hurt me too much !" At length, by a supreme effort, 
 he escaped from his tormentor's hands. During this time 
 the audience, foreseeing the result of this amusing scene, 
 had been shouting with laughter, and Castelli found some 
 difiiculty in gaining a hearing. 
 
 "Gentlemen!" he said, assuming a tone of the deepest 
 disappointment, " you see me both surprised and vexed at 
 the flight of that gentleman, who had not the courage to 
 allow himself to be eaten. Now, I expect some one to take 
 his place ; for, far from shunning the performance of my 
 promise, I feel so comfortable, that I pledge myself, after 
 eating the first spectator who offers, to eat the second, and 
 so on. Indeed, to prove myself worthy your applause, I 
 promise to eat the whole roomful." 
 
 This jest was greeted by another hearty laugh, but the 
 farce was played out, No one came forward to be eaten, 
 and the crowd went home to digest the trick played on 
 them all. 
 
 If such manoeuvres could succeed, few spectators were 
 left for Torrini. As he desired to maintain a certain dig- 
 nity, he never announced tricks he did not perform, and, 
 even if trying to render the titles attractive, he always 
 adhered to the strictest truth. 
 
46 MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 Antonio's Confessions— How to gain Public Applause— The Count 
 
 de , Mountebank— I repair an Automaton — A Mechaniciau'a 
 
 Shop on Wheels— Nomadic Life— Happy Existence — Torrini's Les- 
 sons—His Opinions about Sleight of Hand— A fashionable Greek, 
 Victim of his own Swindling — The Conjuror Comus— A Duel at 
 Piquet — Torrmi proclaimed Conqueror — Eevolations — New Cata- 
 strophe—Poor Torrini ! 
 
 The day after the performances, Antonio came as usual 
 to inquire after my health. I have already said this young 
 man possessed a charming character : ever gay, ever sing- 
 ing, his fund of good humour was inexhaustible, and fre- 
 quently produced a degree of gaiety in our house, which 
 otherwise would have been very gloomy. On opening my 
 door, he stopped the operatic air he had been humming 
 from the bottom of the stairs. 
 
 " Well, my little signor," he said, in French, picturesquelj; 
 intermingled with Italian, " how is the health this morn- 
 ing?" 
 
 *' Famous, Antonio — famous, thank you !" 
 
 " Oh yes ! famous, Antonio, famous !" and the Italian 
 sought to repeat the intonation of my voice. " I believe 
 you, my dear patient ; but that will not prevent you 
 taking this draught the doctor, my master, has sent 
 you." 
 
 *' I am willing ; but, indeed, this medicine is becoming 
 unnecessaiy, for now I feel that I shall soon be restored to 
 health, and then I shall only have to thank you and ypui 
 master for your attention to me, and pay him the expenses 
 caused by my illness." 
 
 *' What are you talking about?" Antonio said. "Do 
 you think of leaving us ? Oh, I hope not." 
 
 *' You are right, Antonio ; I am not thinking of it to-day, 
 but I must consider of it as soon as I am in a condition tc 
 leave. You must see, my friend, that in spite of all the 
 pain our separation will cause me, I must make up my 
 
ANTONIO S CONFESSIONS. 47 
 
 mind to it before long, for I am anxious to return to Blois, 
 and reassure my family, wlio must feel most uncomfortable 
 about me." 
 
 " Your family cannot be uncomfortable, as, in order to 
 calm your father, you wrote to bim that your illness, having 
 had no dangerous results, you had proceeded to Angers to 
 look for work." 
 
 " It is true, but—" 
 
 *' But, but," Antonio interrupted me, " you have no good 
 reason to offer. I repeat, you cannot quit us. Besides," he 
 added, lowering his voice, " if I told you something, I am 
 sure you would be of my opinion." 
 
 Antonio stopped, appeared to struggle for a moment 
 against the desire he felt to confide in me, then making up 
 his mind, said, resolutely, " Ah, bah ! as it is necessary, I 
 cannot hesitate. You were talking just now about paying 
 my master. Do you know that he is, I fancy, in your 
 debt ?" 
 
 " I do not understand you." 
 
 " Well, listen to me, my dear friend," Antonio said, with 
 a mysterious air; "I will explain myself. You are not 
 ignorant that our poor Torrini is afflicted by a very grave 
 malady that touches him here (and Antonio laid his hand 
 on his forehead) ; now, since you have been with us, and he 
 fancies he can trace some resemblance to his son, my 
 master is gradually losing his sorrow, and even indulges in 
 gaiety now and then. Yesterday, for instance, during 
 his performance, you saw him make his audience laugh 
 twice or thrice, which has not occurred for a long time. 
 
 " Ah, my dear sir," Antonio continued, growing more 
 and more communicative, " if you had seen him before that 
 fatal event, when he performed in the first theatres of Italy. 
 "What enthusiasm ! what spirit ! Who could have foretold 
 at that period that Count de " — here Antonio checked him- 
 self — " that the celebrated Torrini would ever be reduced to 
 play in a barn as the rival of hte lowest mountebanks — he, 
 the inimitable sorcerer, the honoured artist, everywhere 
 known as the handsome, elegant Torrini ! However, it was 
 only just ; for he eclipsed the richest professors by his lux- 
 ury and distinguished manners, and never did a performer 
 
48 MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 more fully deserve legitimate applause for his talent and 
 address. 
 
 " However, I must confess," Antonio added, carried away 
 by his confessions, " that this applause was sometimes my 
 handiwork. Doubtlessly the public appreciates talent with 
 intelligence, but it often requires to be guided in the out- 
 burst of its admiration. I took charge of this duty, and 
 without saying a word to my master, I prepared him 
 several ovations which extended and prolonged his success. 
 How many times bouquets thrown at the right moment, 
 excited the applause of the entire audience ! how many 
 times murmurs of approval, skilfully introduced, aroused 
 the enthusiasm of the theatre ! What successes, my dear 
 fellow — what successes we had, though, in those days ! I 
 cannot give you a better idea of them than by saying that, 
 at times, my master could hardly manage to spend all the 
 money his representations produced." 
 
 " It is a pity that your master," I said to Antonio, " did 
 not place less trust in the future, and save a portion of 
 that fortune which he would gladly have to-day." 
 
 " We have often made that reflection," he replied, " but 
 it only increased our regret. And how could we suppose 
 then that Fortune would turn her back on us so suddenly ? 
 Besides, my master thought luxury necessary to acquire that 
 prestige which he liked to possess, and considered justly 
 that his prodigality added to the popularity his talent had 
 procured him." 
 
 This confidential talk would probably have lasted longer 
 had not Torrini called Antonio, who suddenly quitted me. 
 
 One incident struck me in this conversation : it was 
 when Antonio recalled his master's name. This remark 
 only increased my desire to know Torrini's history. But 
 I had no time to lose, as the last performance was an- 
 nounced for the following day, and as I was resolved to 
 return home. 
 
 I therefore firmed myself with courage to overcome the 
 repugnance which, according to Antonio, his master felt 
 iibout speaking of the past, and after we had breakfasted 
 together, I broke the ice, in the hope I should lead him to 
 tell me all I so much wanted to know. 
 
THE AUTOMATON. 49 
 
 " You are going to Angouleme to-morrow," I said to him, 
 " and I regret I cannot accompany you : we must separate, 
 however much it may cost me, after the service you have 
 rendered me, and the care you have devoted to me." 
 
 I then begged him to let my family know the expenses 
 my illness had entailed, and I ended by assuring him of my 
 deep gratitude. I expected to hear Torrini oppose my de- 
 parture : but it was not so. 
 
 " However much you may press me," he replied, with the 
 greatest calmness, " I will take nothing from you. How 
 can I ask payment for what has caused me so much happi- 
 ness? Never talk about that. You wish to leave me," he 
 added, with that aifectionate smile peculiar to him, " and I 
 say you will not leave me." 
 
 I was going to reply. 
 
 " I say you will not leave me," he repeated, quickly, " be- 
 cause you have no reason to do so, and because, presently, 
 you will have a thousand to remain some time longer with 
 me. In the first place, you require great care to recover 
 your health, and root out the remains of an illness which 
 might otherwise return. Besides, I will add, I was await- 
 ing your convalescence to ask a service from you which 
 you cannot refuse ; I want you to repair an automaton I 
 bought from a Dutch mechanician, of the name of Opre, and 
 I am sure you will do it admirably." 
 
 'Z To these excellent reasons, Torrini, who doubtlessly feared 
 some hesitation on my part, joined the most attractive 
 promises. 
 
 " To lighten your labours," he said, "we will have long 
 talks about conjuring. I will explain to you the game of 
 piquet, that delighted you so much, and after, when that 
 subject is exhausted, I will tell you the most important 
 events of my life. You will learn from my stor}^ what a 
 man is capable of suffering short of death, and the lessons 
 you ma}^ draw from a life now almost ended ma}^ serve^ 
 perchance, to guide^ j'-ou in a career which has hardly yet 
 commenced. Lastly," he said, offering me his hand, 
 "your p'resence, 1 trust, will help to dispel those 
 gloomy thoughts which have robbed me so long of my 
 energy." 
 
 E 
 
50 MK.MoiilS OF ROBITvT-HOUDIN-. 
 
 I could iniike no reply to these toiicliing soliiilations; 
 hence 1 yitldeil to Torrini's wishes. The same day liu ^uvo 
 me the automaton I was to repair. It was a small harle- 
 quin, supposed to leap out of the box in which it was 
 confined, perform some evolutions, and return to prison at 
 the word of command ; but it was in such a bad condition, 
 that I had almost to make a new one. For this purpose I 
 arranged a small worktshop in the carriage, and, two days 
 later, I began my first automatic labours, while proceeding 
 along the road to Angouleme. 
 
 Never shall I forgot the chaiin of that journc}'-. My 
 health was perfectly restored, and with it my gaiety and 
 the full exercise of my moral faculties. Our enormous 
 vehicle, dra\\ai by two horses, could not proceed very 
 rapidly : hence we only covered nine or ten leagues a day, 
 and even thenw^e had to start very early. Still, in spite of 
 our slow locomotion, never did time appear to me to pass so^ 
 quickly or more agreeably. Was it not the realization of 
 all my dreams ? What more could I desire ? Installed in 
 a small, clean room, before a window through which the 
 smiling panorama of Poitou and the Angoumois was 
 unrolled before me, I found mj'self amidst my beloved tools, 
 working at the construction of an automaton in which I 
 saw the first-born of a numerous pi'ogeny : it was impossible 
 for me to imagine anything to surpass this. 
 
 On starting, I attacked my work with such impetuosity, 
 that Torrini, still anxious for my health, insisted that I 
 should take some rest after every meal. The same day, on 
 leaving the dinner-table, he handed me a pack of cards, and 
 told me to display my skill. 
 
 Though frightened by such a clear-sighted spectator, by 
 a judge whose skill had so astonished me, I collected my 
 courage, and began by one of those eifects to which I had 
 given the name of " flourishes." It was a brilliant prelude, 
 merely intended to dazzle the e.yes while showing the ex- 
 treme agility of the fingers. Torrini regarded me with 
 indifference, and I fancied I saw a smile playing round his 
 lips. I was, I confess, rather disappointed ; but he hastened 
 to console me. 
 
 ** I really admire your address," he said, " but I put 
 
TORRINl's OPIXIONS. 61 
 
 little faith in those flourishes, as jou call them. I find 
 them brilliant, but useless. Besides, I am curious to know 
 if you use them at the beginning or end of your card 
 tricks." 
 
 " It appears to me logical enough," I replied, " to place 
 them at the beginning, as they are only intended to dazzle 
 the spectators." 
 
 " Well, my boy," he went on, *' we differ on that point. 
 I think that they ought not to be placed either at the begin- 
 ning or end of any card tricks. For this reason : after such a 
 brilliant exhibition, the spectator will only see in your 
 tricks the result of dexterity, while, by affecting a good deal 
 of simplicity, you will prevent your audience trying to ac- 
 count for them. Thus you produce a supernatural effect, 
 and pass for a real sorcerer." 
 
 I quite agreed in this reasoning, the more so as at the 
 beginning of my experiments I had alwa3^s considered na- 
 ture and simplicity the bases of the art of producing illu- 
 sions, and I had laid down the maxim (only applicable to 
 conjuring) that " you must first gain the confidence of the 
 person you wish to cheat." Hence, I had not been con- 
 sistent with my principles, and humbly confessed it. 
 
 It is certainly a singular occupation for a man to whom 
 frankness is natural, to be continually engaged in concealing 
 his thoughts, and seeking the best way of making dupes. 
 But may it not also be urged that dissimulation and false- 
 hood become qualities or defects according to the purpose 
 they are employed for ? 
 
 Does not the merchant, for instance, regard them as pre- 
 cious qualities to heighten the value of his wares ? 
 
 Does the science of diplomacy consist in stating every- 
 thing with frankness and simplicity ? 
 
 Lastly, is not fashion, or the usages of decent society, an 
 admirable mixture of dissimulation and deceptions ? 
 
 As for the art I cultivated, what would it be without 
 falsehood ? 
 
 Encouraged by Torrini, I regained my assurance. I con- 
 tinued practising all my tricks, and showed him several new 
 inventions of my own. My master paid me some compli- 
 ments, to which he added sensible advice. 
 
 E 2 
 
62 MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 " I recommend you," lie said, *' to moderate your viva- 
 city. Instead of displaying so much petulance in your 
 movements, afifect, on the contrary, extreme calmness, 
 and thus you will avoid those clumsy gesticulations by 
 which conjurers generally fancy they distract the attention 
 of their spectators, when they only succeed in wearj^ng; 
 them." 
 
 My professor then, adding example to precept, took the 
 cards from my hands, and showed me in the same passes I 
 had performed the finesses of dissimulation allied to sleight 
 of hand. I looked on with sincere admiration : probably 
 flattered by the impression he had produced on me, Torrini 
 /■aid : — 
 
 " As we are now on the subject of card tricks, I wilt 
 explain to you my game of piquet ; but, in the first place, 
 you must see the box I employ in its performance." 
 
 And he handed me a small box, which I turned over a 
 score times without detecting its use. 
 
 " You will seek in vain/' he said to me ; " a few words 
 would put you on the right track ; but I prefer, although 
 the remembrances it summons up are very painful, to tell 
 you how this box fell into my hands, and for what purpose 
 it was originally invented. 
 
 " About twenty years ago I was living at Florence, where 
 I practised as a physician. I was not a conjuror in those 
 days (he added, with a profound sigh), and would to 
 Heaven I had never become so ! 
 
 " Among the young men of my own age, I was particu- 
 larly intimate with a German of the name of Zilbeianann. 
 Like myself, he was a doctor, and equally like myself with- 
 out practice. We passed the greater part of our leisure 
 hours together : in other words, we were almost insepa- 
 rable. Our tastes were much the same, save on one point, 
 where we differed essentially. Zilbermann was passionately 
 fond of gambling, while I felt no attraction for play. My 
 antipathy for cards must indeed have been excessive to 
 prevent me yielding to the force of contagion; for my 
 friend won large sums, enabling him to live like a great 
 gentleman, \yhile I, though most economical, could not 
 
A CHEAT PUNISHED. 53 
 
 help incurring debts. However this may be, Zilbermann 
 and I lived on terms of fraternal intimacy. His purse was 
 at my service, but I used it discreetly, as I knew not when 
 I should be able to return what I borrowed. His delicacy 
 and generosity towards me led me to believe he was frank 
 and loyal with all the world ; but I was deceived. 
 
 " One day, when I had only left him a few hours before, 
 one of his servants came hastily to summon me, stating that 
 his master had been dangerousl}^ wounded, and begged to 
 see me at once. I ran off directly, and found my unhappy 
 friend lying on his couch, with a face of deadly pallor. 
 Overcoming my grief, I proceeded to offer him succour. 
 Zilbermann stopped me, motioned me to sit down, dis- 
 missed his attendants, and, after being assured Ave were 
 alone, begged me to listen to him. His voice, weakened 
 by the pain he was suffering, scarcely reached my ear, and 
 I was forced to stoop down over him. 
 
 " ' My dear Edmond,' he said to me, ' a man accused me 
 of cheating. I challenged him — we fought with pistols — 
 and his bullet is lodged in my chest.' 
 
 " And when I urged Zilbermann to let me attend to him, 
 he added : — 
 
 " ' It is useless, my friend. I feel I am wounded to 
 death. I have hardly time to make a confession, for which 
 I claim all your indulgent friendship. Learn, then,' he 
 added, offering me a hand damp with death, ' I was not 
 unjustly insulted. I am ashamed to confess that, for a long 
 time, I have lived at the expense of my dupes. Aided by 
 a fatal skill, and still more by an instrument I invented, I 
 daily cheated at play.' 
 
 "'How — you, Zilbermann?' I said, withdrawing my 
 hand sharply. 
 
 " ' Yes, I !' the dying man replied, seeming by a glance 
 to supplicate my mercy. 
 
 " ' Edmond !' he added, collecting all his remaining 
 strength, * in the name of our old friendship do not abandon 
 me ! For the honour of my family, let not this proof of 
 my infamy be found here. I implore you to remove this 
 instrument.' And he showed me a small box attached to 
 his arm. 
 
64 MEMOIRS OF ROBEllT-HOUDIN. 
 
 " I unfastened it, and like yourself, my boy, looked at it, 
 without understanding its use. Kovived by a thought of 
 his culpable passion, Zilbermann added, with the most 
 lively admiration, 
 
 " ' And yet, see how ingenious it was. This box can be 
 attached to the arm without perceptibly increasing its size. 
 Eeady packed cards are put in it beforehand ; when you 
 are going to cut, you put your hand quietly over the cards 
 on the table, so as to cover them completely; then you 
 press this spring by resting your arm gently on the table. 
 The prepared cards come out, while a pair of pincers seizes 
 the other pack and draws it up into the box. To-day, for 
 the first time, the instniment failed me — the pincers left a 
 card on the table. My adversaiy ' 
 
 "Zilbermann could not complete the phrase; he had 
 drawn his last gasp. 
 
 " Zilbermann's confessions and death had overpowered 
 me, and I hastened from his room. On retuniing home, I 
 began to reflect on what had happened, and, imagining that 
 my known intimacy with the deceased would forbid my 
 stay at Florence, I detennined on proceeding to Naples. I 
 took with me the unlucky box, though not foreseeing the 
 use I should eventually make of it ; and for a long time I 
 forgot its existence. However, when I turned my attention 
 to conjuring, I thought about my piquet trick, and the 
 fortunate use I made of the box gained me one of my most 
 remarkable triumphs as professor of sleight of hand." 
 
 \ 
 At this recollection Torrini's eyes sparkled with unusual ^ 
 brilliancy, and prepared me for an interesting anecdote. 
 He then proceeded as follows : — 
 
 " A conjuror, named Comus, had invented a trick at 
 piquet, which he performed, I must allow, with extraordi- 
 nary dexterity. The praise he acquired in consequence 
 rendered him ver\^ boastful ; and thus he never failed to 
 announce on his bills that he alone could perfonn this 
 incomparable trick, thus challenging all the sleight-of- 
 hand professors known. I had some degree of reputation 
 in those days, and Comus's assertion stung me. Knowing 
 his way of doing the trick, and my own to be far 
 
ift. A DUEL WITH CARDS. 55 
 
 superior, I resolved to pick up the glove lie threw to all 
 his rivals. 
 
 " I therefore went to Geneva, where he happened to be, 
 and offered him a share performance, in which a jury 
 should decide on our relative merits, Comus gladly ac- 
 cepted, and on the day fixed an immense number of spec- 
 tators assembled. Being my senior, my opponent com- 
 menced. But in order that you, my dear Eobert, may also 
 act as jury, I will first explain to you how he performed 
 his trick. 
 
 " Taking a new pack of cards, he imdid the cover, had 
 them shuffled, and then taking them in his hand, he 
 managed to get them, as if b}^ accident, either face to face 
 or back to back. This disarrangement gave him time to 
 manipulate the cards, while appearing to be merely putting 
 them in order ; thus, when he had finished, I could easily 
 see that he had made an almost imj^erceptible crease on 
 certain cards, which must give him a suit of eight cards, a 
 king, and fourteen in aces. 
 
 " This done, Comus handed the cards to his adversary, 
 begging him to shuffle them again ; and during this time 
 he had his eyes bandaged. This was a useless precaution, 
 let me observe en passant ; for w^hatever care may be 
 taken to deprive a jierson of sight in this way, tlie pro- 
 jection of the nose always leaves a vacuum sufficient to 
 see clearly. 
 
 " When the other player had finished, Comus again took 
 up the cards as if to shuffle them ; but you can easily 
 understand that he only arranged them so that the cards 
 he had marked must fall to him in the deal. The saute de 
 coupe, as you are aware, neutralizes the effect of cutting ; 
 hence Comus was certain of success. In fact, matters 
 ended so on this occasion, and hearty applause greeted my 
 rival's victory. 
 
 *' I have reason to believe that a great number of these 
 bravos emanated from his friends and accomplices ; for 
 when I came forward in my turn to perform my trick, a 
 murmur of dissatisfaction greeted my appearance on the 
 stage. The ill-will of the spectators was so manifest that 
 it would have intimidated me, had I not then been quite 
 
56 JIEMOmS OF ROBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 steeled af^ainst all applause or dissatisfaction on the part of 
 the public. 
 
 " The audience were fsir from suspecting the sni'prise I 
 had prepared for them ; feu-, instead of asking any one to 
 come from the house as my playman, I requested Comus 
 himself to play with me. At this request I saw the people 
 begin to look at each other ; but what Avere the exclama- 
 tions when, after asking my rival to bandage my gxos and 
 tie my hands, I not only declined to touch the cards, but 
 left him at liberty, after stating in what suit he would be 
 repiqued, to deal the cards by twos or threes, and choose 
 the hand he preferred ! 
 
 " I had a pack ready prepared in my box, and I was sure 
 of my instrument — need I say that I gained the game ? 
 
 " Owing to my secret arrangements, my mode of acting 
 was so simple, that it was impossible to find out how I did 
 it, while Comus's preliminary manipulations led to the 
 supposition that his dexterity gained the game. I was 
 declared victor unanimously. Shouts greeted this decision ; 
 and even Comus's own friends, deserting my rival, came to 
 offer me a pretty gold j^in, surmounted by a cup, the 
 symbol of my profession. This pin, as one of the audience 
 told me, had been ordered by poor Comus, who felt certain 
 of winning it back. 
 
 *' I may (Torrini added) fairly boast of this victory ; for, 
 though Zilbermann left me the box, he had not taught me 
 the game of piquet, which I invented myself. A\as not 
 this trick, I ask you, far superior to Comus's, which, it is 
 true, deceived the multitude, but the poorest sleight-of- 
 hand performer could easily detect ?" 
 
 Torrini was extremely proud of his inventive skill ; but 
 this, I believe, was his sole defect, and he made up for it 
 by his readiness to praise other persons. His story ended, 
 I complimented him most sincerely, not only on his inven- 
 tion, but on the victory he had gained over Comus. 
 
 Travelling in this way, and stopping at times to perfoim 
 in to^^^ls where we might hope to clear a profit, we passed 
 through Limoges, and found ourselves on the road leading 
 from that town to Clermont. Torrini proposed to give 
 
A SAD ACCIDENT. 57 
 
 some performances in the chief town of the Puy-de-D6me, 
 after which he intended returning straight to Italy, whose 
 gentle climate and quaint ovations he regretted. 
 
 I had made up my mind to part from him there. We 
 had been travelling together about two months ; this was 
 about the time I had fixed for the repair of the automaton, 
 and my work was almost concluded. On the other hand, I 
 had a right to ask my dismissal, with no fear of being con- 
 sidered ungrateful. Torrini's health had become as good 
 as we might ever expect, and I had given up to him all the 
 time I could reasonably spare. 
 
 Still I did not like to speak about our separation ; for the 
 professor, delighted with my progress and skill, could not 
 conceive I could have any other wish but to travel with 
 him, and eventually become his successor. This position 
 would certainly have suited me in many respects ; for, as I 
 have said, my vocation was irrevocably fixed. But, whether 
 new instincts were kindled in me, or that the intimacy I 
 lived in with Torrini had opened my eyes to the unplea- 
 santness of such a mode of life, I aimed at something 
 higher than being his successor. 
 
 I had therefore made up my mind to leave him ; but pain- 
 ful circumstances deferred the moment of separation. 
 
 We had just arrived at Aubusson, a town celebrated for 
 its numerous carpet factories. Torrini and his servant were 
 on the box of the carriage : I was at work. We were going 
 down a hill, and Antonio w^as pulling at the rope which 
 dragged our wheels, when, suddenly, I heard something 
 break, and the carriage started off at full speed. The 
 slightest obstacles produced a tremendous shock, and eveiy 
 moment I expected the carriage to go over. 
 
 Trembling, and hardly able to breathe, I clung to my 
 bench as a plank of safety, and, with my eyes closed, awaited 
 the death that appeared inevitable. For a moment we were 
 on the point of escaping the catastrophe. Our powerful 
 horses, skilfully guided by Antonio, had kept up bravely 
 during this rapid descent, and we had passed the first 
 houses in Aubusson, when, as misfortune willed it, an enor- 
 mous hay-cart emerged from a side street, and barred our 
 passage. The driver did not see the danger till it was too 
 
58 MEMOIUS OF ROBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 late to avoid it. The accident was inevitable, tlio collision 
 frightful. 
 
 1 was momentarily stunned by the pain, but as soon aa 
 I recovered I stepped out of the carriage to look after my 
 comrades. I found Antonio, covered with harmless contu- 
 sions, supporting Torrini, whose arm was dislocated, and 
 log broken. Our two horses lay dead in the road : as for 
 the carriage, only the body remained intact ; all the rest 
 was knocked to atoms. 
 
 A doctor, hurriedly sent for, reached an adjoining inn to 
 which we had been directed almost as soon as ourselves. 
 And here I could not refrain from admiring Torrini's mag- 
 nanimity, when he insisted on our being looked to first ; 
 and, in spite of our entreaties, we could not alter his deter- 
 mination. Antonio and myself were soon all right again, 
 but this was not the case with Torrini : he was obliged to 
 undergo all the operations and different phases of a broken 
 
 Although he treated the accident so coolly, it might 
 produce terrible consequences for him : the repair of the 
 carriage, the physician, our forced staj' at an inn, would 
 cost him very dear. Could he continue his performances — 
 replace his horses ? This idea caused Antonio and myself 
 cruel anxiety : Torrini alone did not despair of the future. 
 
 *' No matter," he said, with entire confidence in himself; 
 *' once I have recovered, all will go on well. Why ought 
 a courageous and healthy man to fear aught ? Help your- 
 self, and Heaven will help you! our good La Fontaine 
 wrote. Well, we will all, then, help ourselves, and no doubt 
 we shall escape from this dilemma." 
 
 In order to give my company to this excellent man, and 
 distract his thoughts, I put up my bench by his bedside, 
 and, while working, continued the conversations which had 
 been so unfortunately interrupted. 
 
 The day at length arrived when I gave the last touch to 
 the automaton, and made it perfoim before Torrini, who 
 appeared delighted Avith it. Had our patient been less 
 unfortunate, I should have now quitted him ; but could I 
 leave the man who had saved my life in this wa}'^ ? Besides, 
 another thought had occurred to me. Although Torrini i 
 
TORRINI'S HISTORY. 59 
 
 told US nothing of his pecuniary position, Antonio and I 
 fancied he was greatly embarrassed. Was it not my duty 
 to try and relieve him, were it in my power ? I imparted 
 to Antonio a scheme he approved, though begging me to 
 defer it a little longer, till we found whether our supposi- 
 tions were correct. 
 
 Still the days were very long by my patient's side, for my 
 mechanical job was finished, and sleight of hand was a sub- 
 ject of conversation long exhausted. One day, when Torrini 
 and I were seeking some topic to talk about, I remembered 
 his promise to tell me his life-history, and reminded him 
 of it. 
 
 At this request Torrini sighed. "Ah!" he said, " if I 
 could suppress man}'- sad incidents in my story, I should 
 delight to read you a few pleasant pages from an artist's 
 life. However it may be," he added, " I have contracted 
 a debt with you which I must pay. 
 
 " Do not expect me to give you a journal of my life ; that 
 would be tedious both to you and myself. I will only quote 
 some interesting episodes, and describe to you some tricks 
 you possibly have not heard of. This will be the most 
 amusing portion of my story," Torrini added, with a smile, 
 *' for whatever may be your present resolutions about fol- 
 lowing my art, I need not be a Nostradamus to predict that 
 you will devote yourself to it some day, and gain immense 
 success. What you are about to hear, my friend, will show 
 you that it is not every man who can say, with the popular 
 proverb, ' Spring, I will not drink thy water !' " 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 Torrini relates his Life — Treachery of Chevalier Pinetti— A Conjuror 
 through Malice— A Eace between two Magicians — Death of Pinetti 
 — Exhibits before Pius VII.— The Cardinal's Chronometer — Twelve 
 Hundred Francs spent on a Trick— Antonio and Antonia— The most 
 bitter of Mystifications — Constantinople. 
 
 My name is Edmond de Grisy, and that of Torrini belongs 
 to Antonio, my brother-in-law. That worthy young man, 
 whom you wrongfully took for my servant, has been good 
 enough to follow me in my evil fortune, and help me in my 
 
60 MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 performances. You must have seen, though, by the way I 
 treat him, that while leaving to him the toil better suited 
 for his ago than mine, 1 regard him as my equal, and con- 
 sider him my best friend — at least, I should have called him 
 so before knowing you — but now, one of my best friends. 
 
 ]\Iy father, the Count do Grisy, resided on his property 
 in Languedoc, the sole resource left him of a once large 
 fortune, which circumstances had sadly diminished. De- 
 voted to Louis XVI., and one of his most faithful servants, 
 on the day of danger he offered his body as a rampart for 
 his sovereign, and was killed at the storming of the Tuileries 
 on the 18th August. 
 
 I was at that time in Paris, and, profiting by the dis- 
 orders in the capital, I was enabled to pass the bairiers, 
 and reach our small family domain. There I dug up a 
 hundred louis my father had concealed for any unforeseen 
 accident ; to this money I added some jewels left by my 
 mother, and with these modest resources proceeded to 
 Florence. 
 
 The value of my entire propei'ty was 5000 francs. On 
 the interest of this sum I could not live ; hence I was 
 obliged to seek some profession to support me. I soon 
 formed my decision : taking advantage of the excellent edu- 
 cation I had received, I devoted myself to the study of 
 medicine. Four years later I took my degree as doctor ; I 
 was then twenty-seven. 
 
 I established myself at Florence, where I hoped to form 
 a connection. Unfortunately for me, in this town, with its 
 gentle climate and reinvigorating sun, the number of phy- 
 sicians was greater than that of the patients, and my new 
 profession was a perfect sinecure. 
 
 I have already told you how Zilbermann's death com- 
 pelled me to quit the capital of Tuscany, and I established 
 myself at Naples. More fortunate than at Florence, imme- 
 diately on my arrival I was called in to a patient whose 
 illness had defied the skill of the first Italian physicians. 
 He was a young man, of very high family : his recovery 
 gained me great renown, and I soon took my place among 
 the best Neapolitan physicians. This success, and the 
 fashion I gained by it, opened to me the doors of all the 
 
CHEVALIER PINETTI. 61 
 
 salons, and my name, aided by the manners of a gentleman 
 brought up at the court of Louis XVI., rendered me indis- 
 pensable at all soirees and festivals. 
 
 AVhat a happy and calm existence I might still be enjoy- 
 ing had not destiny, jealous of my happiness, destroyed my 
 future prospects of felicity by hurling me into the vivid 
 and ardent emotions of an artistic life ! 
 
 The carnival of 1796 had just commenced. At that time 
 one man was the popular idol of the Italians ; nothing was 
 spoken of but the marvels achieved by Chevalier Pinetti. 
 This celebrated conjuror came to Naples, and the whole 
 city attended his interesting performances. As I was madly 
 attached to this sort of spectacle, I spent every evening at 
 the theatre, trying to guess the chevalier's tricks, and, 
 unfortunately for myself, I discovered the key to many of 
 them. 
 
 But I did not stop here ; I also wished to perform them 
 before a few friends : success stimulated me, and made me 
 desirous of increasing my repertoire. At length I could 
 perform all Pinetti's tricks. Tlie chevalier was eclipsed ; 
 nothing was spoken of but my skill and address ; and every 
 one besought a performance from me. But I did not accede 
 to all these requests, for I was chary in displaying my 
 talent, hoping thus to increase its value. 
 
 My privileged spectators were only the more enthusiastic, 
 and asserted that I equalled Pinetti, if I did not surpass 
 him. 
 
 The public is so happy, my dear lad (Torrini said, with 
 a look of melancholy regret), when it can oppose some 
 rising talent to any artist in renown. It seems as if this 
 sovereign dispenser of fashion and favour takes a malicious 
 pleasure in reminding the man it adores that ever}^ reputa- 
 tion is fragile, and that the idol of to-day may be shattered 
 to-morrow. 
 
 My vanity forbade my thinking of this. I believed in 
 the sincerity of the praise bestowed on me ; and I, the 
 earnest student, the clever doctor, was proud of my futile 
 success. 
 
 Pinetti, far from seeming jealous of my triumph, evinced 
 a desire to form my acquaintance, and even came to call 
 
G2 MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 upon me. He mij^ht have been about forty-six years of 
 age at this time, but Lis elegant toilet made him appear 
 much younger. Tliere was something distinguished in his 
 face, though the features were commonplace and irregular, 
 and his manners were excellent. Still, by an inexplicable 
 want of judgment, he used, when performing, to wear a 
 brilliant general's uniform, on which numerous decorations 
 glistened. 
 
 This peculiarity, which bordered too much on the char- 
 latan, ought to have enlightened me as to the man's moral 
 value ; but my passion for conjuring rendered mo blind. 
 We met like old friends, and our intimacy was almost in- 
 stantaneous. Pinetti was most affable, talked about his 
 secrets unreservedly, and even offered to take me to the 
 theatre and show me his stage arrangements. I accepted 
 the offer with the greatest readiness, and we entered his 
 richly-ornamented carriage. 
 
 From that moment the chevalier treated me with the 
 utmost familiarity. In any other this would have wounded 
 my pride, or at least aroused my suspicion, and I should 
 have been on my guard. On the contrary, I was enchanted 
 with Pinetti, for, by his unbounded luxury, he had gained 
 such consideration, that the noblest young gentlemen in the 
 city were proud of his friendship. Why, then, should I be 
 more haughty than they ? In a few days we had become 
 almost inseparable friends, only parting at the time of our 
 mutual performances. 
 
 One evening, after one of my private exhibitions, I pro- 
 ceeded to sup as usual with Pinetti, my head still a-glow 
 with the compliments I had received. I found him alone. 
 On seeing me enter, the chevalier ran up to me, embraced 
 me affectionately, and asked how my poiformance had gone 
 off. I did not hide my success from him. 
 
 " Ah ! my friend," he said, " that does not surjmse me ; 
 you are incomparable : indeed, I should not be paying you 
 a forced compliment if I said you might challenge the most 
 skilful among us." 
 
 And during the whole supper, despite my efforts to stop 
 him, he would only speak of my skill and address. Though 
 I tried to decline his compliments, the chevalier seemed so 
 
A RASH PROMISE. €3 
 
 sincere, that I ended by accepting them. In fact, I was so 
 convinced of their truth, that I began to pay myself some 
 compliments ; for how could I believe it was all a trick to 
 make a fool of me ? When Pinetti saw I had arrived at this 
 stage, and that the champagne had turned my head, he said : 
 
 " Do you know, my dear count, that you could offer the 
 Neapolitans a surprise to-morrow, worth its weight in gold 
 for the poor ?" 
 
 "How?" I asked. 
 
 " Suppose, my dear friend, you take my place in a per- 
 formance I am going to give on behalf of the poor. We 
 will put your name in the bills instead of mine, and it will 
 be regarded as a noble and honourable understanding be- 
 tween two artists. One representation the less will not 
 injure my reputation, while it will cover you with glory ; 
 I shall thus have the double satisfaction of helping the 
 unfortunate, and displaying my best friend's talent to 
 advantage." 
 
 This proposal so startled me, that I rose from table, 
 as if fearing to hear more. But Pinetti was gifted with 
 such persuasive eloquence, and he seemed to promise him- 
 self so much pleasure from my future triumph, that at 
 length I ended by yielding all he asked. 
 
 " That is right," Pinetti said to me ; " dismiss such want 
 of confidence in yourself, \vhich could be hardly pardoned 
 in a schoolboy. Now, matters settled so far, we have no 
 time to lose. Let us draw up the bill : choose among my 
 tricks those you prefer, and, as for the preparations, trust 
 to me : I will take care all is in order." 
 
 The greater number of Pinetti's tricks were performed 
 by the help of accomplices, w^ho brought to the theatre 
 various objects of which the conjuror had doubles. This 
 singularly facilitated the pretended marvels, and I had no 
 doubt of success. 
 
 We soon drew up the bill, at the top of which I wrote 
 my name with great emotion ; then came' a list of the 
 tricks I proposed to do. Just as we finished this, the 
 usual guests entered the room, offering excuses more or 
 less specious to explain their delay. Still, their tardy 
 appearance aroused no suspicion in my mind ; for Pinetti's 
 
04 MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 was open all hours of the night, and his door was only 
 closed from daybreak till two p.bi., the time he devoted to 
 sleep and dress. 
 
 As soon as the new arrivers heard of my resolution, they 
 noisily congratulated me, and promised to support me by 
 their hearty applause. Not that I wanted it, they added, 
 for my performance would create an extraordinary en- 
 thusiasm. Pinetti gave one of his sei^ants the bill, telling 
 him to order the printer to jiave it posted all over the city 
 before daybreak. 
 
 An impulse made me stretch out my hand to take back 
 the paper, but Pinetti checked me with a laugh. 
 
 *' Come, my dear friend," he said, " do not try to fly an 
 assured triumph, and to-morrow at this hour we shall all 
 be toasting your success." 
 
 t All the visitors joined in chorus, and they drank in anti- 
 cipation of my approaching triumph. A few glasses of 
 champagne dispelled my hesitation and scruples. 
 
 I returned home very late, and went to bed without 
 thinking of what had occurred. At two the next after- 
 noon I was still asleep, when I was aroused by Pinetti's 
 voice : — 
 
 •' Get up, Edmond !" he shouted through the door. 
 *' Up, man ! we have no time to lose : the great day has 
 arrived. Open the door : I have a thousand things to say 
 to you." 
 
 I hastened to open. 
 
 *' Ah ! my dear count," he said, " allow me to congratu- 
 late you on your good fortune. Your name is in every 
 mouth : the whole theatre is taken ; the last tickets are 
 being positively fought for ; the king and the royal family 
 will do you the honour of being present ; we have just 
 been informed of the fact." 
 
 At these words the whole aflfair flashed across my mind : 
 a cold perspiration stood on my forehead : the terror tliat 
 assails every novice rendered me dizzy. In my confusion 
 I sat down on the foot of my bed. 
 
 "Do not reckon on me, chevalier," I said, with firm- 
 ness. ** Whatever may happen, I will not perform." 
 
 " AVhat ! you will not perfoim ?" my perfidious friend 
 
FIRST PUBLIC PERFORMANCE. 65 
 
 said, affecting the most perfect tranquillity; "but, my 
 good fellow, you cannot be thinking of what you are say- 
 ing. There is no possibility of drawing back : the bills 
 are put up, and it is your duty to keep the engagement you 
 have made. Besides, you should remember this perform- 
 ance is for the poor, who have already begun to bless you, 
 and you cannot abandon them, while a refusal would 
 be an insult to the king. Come, come," he added, " sum- 
 mon up your courage, my dear friend. Meet me at the 
 theatre at four : we will have a rehearsal, which I con- 
 sider useless, but it may restore your pluck. Till then, 
 good-bye !" 
 
 So soon as I was left to myself, I remained for nearly an 
 hour absorbed in thought, trying in vain to elude the per- 
 formance. An insurmountable barrier ever prevented 
 -escape : the king, the poor, the entire city — all, in short, 
 rendered it an imperious duty to keep m}^ rash promise. 
 At length I began to think there was no serious difficulty 
 about the performance, for a great number of the tricks, as 
 I have already said, being performed by the help of friends, 
 these took the chief labour on themselves. Encouraged 
 by this idea, I gradually regained my courage, and at four 
 o'clock joined Pinetti at the theatre with a degree of assur- 
 ance that surprised even him. 
 
 As the performance did not begin till eight, I had ample 
 time to make my preparations, and I employed it so well, 
 that, when the moment arrived to appear on the stage, my 
 foolisli fears were completely dissipated, and I presented 
 anyself before the public with sufficient coolness for a 
 novice. 
 
 The theatre was crowded. The king and his family, 
 seated in a stage box, appeared to regard me with sym- 
 pathizing glances ; for his majesty was probably aware of 
 my being a French emigre. 
 
 I boldly commenced my performance with a trick which 
 must eminently excite the imagination[of the spectators. T 
 had to borrow a ring, place it in a pistol, and fire through 
 a window opening from the stage into the sea that bathed 
 the theatre walls. This done, I would open a box, pre- 
 viously examined, closed, and sealed by the audience, and 
 
 F 
 
09 MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 in it would be found'an enormous fish bearing the ring in 
 its mouth. 
 
 Full of confidence in the success of the trick, I proceeded 
 towards the pit to borrow a ring. Of twenty offered me I 
 selected one belonging to an accomplice of Pinetti's, and 
 begged him to place it with his own hands in the barrel of 
 the pistol I handed to him. Pinetti had told me that his 
 friend would use for this purpose a copper ring, which 
 would bo sacrificed, and that I should return him a gold 
 one in its place. 
 
 The spectator obeyed me. I then opened the window 
 and fired the pistol. Like the soldier on the battle-field, 
 the smell of powder excited me; I felt full of fun and 
 gaiety, and ventured on a few jests, which pleased the 
 audience. Taking advantage of the general hilarity, I 
 seized my magic wand, and traced my cabalistic circles 
 round the box. At length I broke the seals, and tri- 
 umphantly produced the fish, which I carried to the owner 
 of the ring, that ho might take it out of the fish's mouth. 
 
 If the accomplice play his part well, he must evince the 
 greatest stupefaction; and, indeed, the gentleman, on 
 receiving the ring began looking around him, and his 
 face grew very long. Proud of my success, I went back 
 on the stage, and bowed in reply to the applause I re- 
 ceived. Ah, my dear Eobert ! this triumph lasted but a 
 short time, and became to me the prelude of a terrible 
 mystification. 
 
 I was proceeding to another trick, when I saw my 
 spectator gesticulating to his neighbours, and then turning 
 to me as if wishing to address me. I fancied he was going 
 on with the farce to dispel any suspicion of collusion ; still 
 I thought he went too far. What was my surprise, then, 
 when the man rose and said : — 
 
 ^ " Excuse me, sir, but it seems as if your trick is not over, 
 since you have given me a copper ring set with paste in- 
 stead of my diamond solitaire." 
 
 As a mistake seemed to me impossible, I turned on my 
 heel, and commenced my preparations for the next trick. 
 
 " Sir," my obstinate spectator again took the wordj 
 " will you have the goodness to reply to my question ? If 
 
A BITTER DECEPTION. 67 
 
 the end of your trick be a jest, I acknowledge it as such, 
 and you can return me my ring presently. If it be not so, 
 I cannot accept the horrible substitute you have handed 
 me." 
 
 Every one was silent : none knew the meaning of this 
 protest, though many fancied it was an ordinary mystifica- 
 tion, which would end in still greater glory for the per- 
 former. The claimant, the public, and myself found our- 
 selves in the same state of uncertainty ; it was an enigma 
 which I alone could solve— and I did not know the word. 
 
 Hoping, however, to escape from a position as critical as 
 it was ridiculous, I walked up to my pitiless creditor, and, 
 on looking at the ring I had given him, I was startled at 
 finding it was really coarsely gilt copper. " Could the 
 spectator to whom I applied have been no accomplice ?" I 
 thought. " Could Pinetti desire to betray me ?" This 
 supposition appeared to me so hateful that I rejected it, 
 preferring to attribute the fatal mistake to chance. But 
 what should I do or say ? My head' was all on fire. 
 
 In my despair, I was about to oifer the public some ex- 
 planation of this untoward accident, when an inspiration 
 temporarily relieved me from my embarrassment. 
 
 " Do you still believe, sir," I said to the plaintiff, after 
 assuming an extreme degree of calmness, " that your ring 
 has been changed into copper while passing through my 
 hands?" 
 
 *' Yes, sir ; and, besides, the one you have returned me 
 does not in the slightest degree resemble mine in shape." 
 
 " Very good, sir," I continued, boldly ; " that is the real 
 marvel of the trick ; that ring will insensibly assume its 
 old form on your finger, and by to-morrow morning you 
 will see it is the one you lent me. That is what we term 
 in the language of the cabala the ' imperceptible transform- 
 ation.' " 
 
 This reply gained me time. I intended to see the 
 claimant when the perfoimance was over, pay him the price 
 of the ring, whatever it might be, and beg him to keep my 
 secret. After this happy escape I took up a pack of cards 
 and continued my performance, and as the accomplices 
 had nothing to do in this trick, I felt sure of success. 
 
 F 2 
 
C8 MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 Approaching the royal box, I begged his majesty to do me 
 the honour of drawing a card. He did so very affably ; 
 but, to mj'- horror, the king had no sooner looked at the 
 card he had drawn, than he threw it angiily on the stage, 
 with marks of most profound dissatisfaction. 
 
 The blow dealt me this time was too direct for me to 
 attempt parrying it or turning it aside. But I was anxious 
 to know the meaning of such a humiliating affiont, so 
 I picked up the card. Imagine, my dear boy, the full 
 extent of my despair when I read a coarse insult to his 
 majesty, written in a hand I could not mistake. I at- 
 tempted to stammer some excuse, but by a gesture the king 
 disdainfully commanded silence. 
 
 Oh, I cannot describe to you all that then passed in my 
 mind, for a dizziness attacked my brain, and I felt as if I 
 were going mad. 
 
 I had, at length, obtained a proof of Pinetti's perfidy. 
 He had determined on covering me with disgrace and 
 ridicule, and I had fallen into the infamous snare he had so 
 treacherously laid for me. This idea restored my wild 
 energy : I was seized by a ferocious desire for revenge, and 
 I rushed to the side scene, where my enemy should bo 
 stationed. I meant to seize him by the collar, drag him 
 on the stage like a malefactor, and force him to demand 
 pardon. 
 
 But the juggler was no longer there. I ran in every 
 direction like a maniac, but wherever I might turn, cries, 
 hisses, and shouts pursued me, and distracted my brain. 
 At length, bowed down by the weight of such intense 
 emotions, I fainted. 
 
 For a week I remained in a raging fever, incosantly 
 yelling for revenge on Pinetti. And I did not know all 
 then. 
 
 I learned afterwards that this unworthy man, this false 
 fi'iend, had emerged from his hiding-place on my fainting. 
 He had gone on the stage at the I'equest of some of his 
 accomplices, and continued the performance, to the great 
 satisfaction of the entire audience. 
 
 Thus, then, all this friendship — all these protestations of 
 devotion — were only a farce — a very juggling trick. 
 
A SCHEME OF REVENGE. 69 
 
 Pinetti had never felt the slightest affection for me ; his 
 flatter}^ was only meant to draw me into the trap he had 
 laid for my vanity, and he wished to destroy, by a public 
 humiliation, a rival who annoyed him. 
 
 He was perfectly successful in this respect, for from that 
 day my most intimate friends, fearing, probably, that the 
 ridicule I endured might be reflected on them, suddenly 
 turned their backs on me. This desertion affected me 
 deeply, but I had too much pride to beg the renewal of 
 such passing friendship, and I resolved on quitting Naples 
 immediacely. Besides, I was planning a scheme of ven- 
 geance, for which solitude was necessary. 
 
 Pinetti, like the coward he was, had fled after the atro- 
 cious insult he had offered me. To have challenged him 
 would be doing him too much honour, so I vowed to fight 
 him with his own weapons, and humiliate the shameful 
 traitor in my turn. 
 
 This was the plan I drew up : — 
 
 I determined to devote myself ardently to sleight of 
 hand, and study thoroughly an art of which I as yet knew 
 only the first principles. Then, when quite confident in 
 myself — when I had added many new tricks to Pinetti's 
 repertoire — I would pursue my enemy, enter every town 
 before him, and continually cru!<h him by m^' supe- 
 rioritj^. 
 
 Full of this idea, I sold everything I possessed, and took 
 refuge in the country, where, completely retired from the 
 world, I prepared my plans for vengeance. I cannot 
 describe to you, my friend, what patience I devoted and 
 how I toiled during the six months my voluntary retreat 
 lasted ; but I was more than compensated for it, as my 
 success was complete. I gained a degree of skill to which 
 I had never dared to pretend : Pinetti was no longer my 
 master, and I became his rival. 
 
 Not satisfied with these results, I intended also to eclipse 
 him by the richness of my stage. I therefore ordered 
 apparatus of unknown brilliancy in those days, spending 
 in this every farthing I possessed. With what delight did 
 I regard these glittering instruments, each of which seemed 
 to me a weapon capable of inflicting mortal wounds on my 
 
70 MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 adversary's vanity ! How proudly my heart beat at tlie 
 thought of the contest I v^^ould commence with him ! 
 
 Henceforth, it would be a duel of skill between Pinetti 
 and myself, but a mortal duel ; one of us must remain on 
 the ground, and I had reason to hope that I should be the 
 victor in the struggle. 
 
 Before commencing my tour I made some inquiries about 
 my rival, and learned that, after traversing Southern Italy, 
 he had just left Lucca, en route for Bologna. I learned, too, 
 that, on leaving that city, he intended to visit Modena, 
 Parma, and Piacenza. 
 
 Without loss of time I set out for Modena, in order to 
 precede him there, and thus prevent him performing. 
 Enormous bills announced the representations of "The 
 Count de Grisy, the Ekench Artist," and my programme 
 was most attractive, for it contained all Pinetti's tricks. 
 The papers had puffed the latter so extravagantly for some 
 time past, that I felt sure my performance would be gladly 
 witnessed. 
 
 In fact, my room was taken by stormf as eagerly as on 
 my disastrous performance at Naples ; but this time the 
 result was very diiferent. The improvements I had in- 
 troduced in my rival's tricks, and the great skill I displayed 
 in performing them, gained me a unanimous verdict. 
 
 From this tine my success was insured, and the follow- 
 ing performances raised my name above that of all the most 
 fashionable magicians of the day. According to the plan 
 I had laid down, I left Modena when I heard of Pinetti's 
 approach, and went to Parma. My rival, full of faith in 
 his merits, and not believing in my success, took the 
 theatre I had just left. But he began to be bitterly un- 
 deceived ; the whole city was satiated with the style of 
 amusement he announced ; no one responded to his appeal, 
 and, for the first time, the success to which he was ac- 
 customed slipped from his grasp. 
 
 Chevalier Pinetti, who had so long held undivided sway, 
 was not the man to yield to a person he called a novice. 
 He had guessed my plans, and, far from awaiting the 
 attack, he acted on the offensive, and came to Parma, where 
 he opened a room exactly opposite mine. But this town 
 
THE CHEVALIER DEFEATED. 71 
 
 was lost to him like the last : he had the misery of seeing 
 my theatre continually filled, while his was quite deserted. 
 
 I must tell you, too, my friend,' that all the money I 
 netted only covered my luxurious outlay. What did I care 
 for gold and silver ? I only dreamed of revenge, and to 
 satisfy that feeling I squandered my money. I wished, 
 above all, to pale that star which had formerly eclipsed 
 me. I displayed regal pomp in my performances ; the 
 theatre and its approaches were literally covered with 
 tapestry and flowers, while the house and the stage, 
 glistening with light, presented to the dazzled eyes of the 
 audience numerous escutcheons, bearing compliments to 
 the ladies, who were thus quite gained over to the side of 
 the gallant Count de Grisy. 
 
 In this way I crushed Pinetti, although he did all in his 
 power to offer me a vigorous resistance. But what could 
 his tinsel and old-fashioned ornaments avail against what 
 I may fairly term my elegance and distinguished manners? 
 
 Piacenza, Cremona, Mantua, Yicenza, Padua, and Venice, 
 were witnesses of our desperate struggle, and, despite his 
 rage and despair, the arrogant Pinetti was obliged to en- 
 dure my superiority, if he did not recognize it. Aban- 
 doned by even his most zealous admirers, he determined 
 to quit the field, and proceeded towards Eussia. Some 
 slight success partly consoled his late defeats, but, as if 
 Fortune were determined on making him repay the favours 
 f5he had so long lavished on him, a tedious and painful 
 illness exhausted his strength as well as his slight savings. 
 Eeduced to a state of abject misery, he died at the village 
 of Bartitchoff, in Volhynia, at the house of a nobleman 
 who sheltered him from compassion. 
 
 Pinetti once gone, my revenge was satiated, and, being 
 master of the battle-field, I might have abandoned a pro- 
 fession ill fitted for my birth. But my medical connection 
 was broken up, and, on the other hand, I yielded to a 
 motive which you will appreciate some day : when a man 
 has once tasted the intoxication produced by the applause 
 of the public, it is very difficult to renounce it ; with my 
 will or against it, I must continue my profession as 
 conjuror. 
 
72 MEMOIIIS OF ROBERT-HOUDIX. 
 
 I therefore detei-mincd on profiting by the reputation I 
 had gained, and proceeded to Eome, as a brilliant termina- 
 tion to my Italian representations. Pinetti had never 
 dared to enter that city, less through distrust of himself 
 than through fear of the Inquisition, of which he could 
 only speak with terror. The chevalier w^as extremely 
 pnident whenever he was personally concerned : he feared 
 being treated like a sorcerer, and ending his days in an 
 auto-da-f6. More than once he had bid me take waming 
 by the unhappy Cagliostro, who was condemned to deaths 
 and only owed to the clemency of the Pope the commuta- 
 tion of the penalty into perpetual imprisonment. 
 
 Confiding in the intelligence of Pius VII., and, besides, 
 having no pretensions to the necromancy Pinetti affected, 
 nor to the charlatanism of Cagliostro, I proceeded to 
 the capital of the Christian world, where my performances 
 created a great sensation. His Holiness himself, on hear- 
 ing of me, did me the signal honour of requesting a per- 
 formance, at which I was advised all the dignitaries of the 
 Church would form my audience. 
 
 You can fancy, my lad, with what eagerness I acquiesced 
 in his wish, and what care I devoted to my preparations. 
 After selecting all my best tricks, I ransacked my brain to 
 invent one worthy of my illustrious spectators. But I had 
 no need to search long, for chance, that most ingenious of 
 inventors came to my aid. 
 
 On the day prior to the performance I was in the shop 
 of one of the first watchmakers of Pome, when a servant 
 
 came in to ask if his eminence the Cardinal de 's 
 
 watch w^ere repaired. 
 
 " It will not be ready till this evening," the watchmaker 
 replied ; " and I will do myself the honour of carrying it 
 to your master myself." 
 
 "When the servant had retired, the tradesman said 
 to me: 
 
 *' This is a handsome and capital watch. The cardinal 
 to whom it belongs values it at more than 10,000 fr. ; for, 
 as he ordered it himself of the celebrated Breguet, h& 
 fancies it must be unique of its kind. Strangely enough, 
 though, only two days ago, a young scamp belonging to 
 
THE a^RDINAL's WATCH. 73 
 
 this city offered me a precisely similar watch, made by the 
 same artist, for 1000 fr." 
 
 While the watchmaker was talking to me, I had already- 
 formed a plan. 
 
 " Do you think," I said to him, " that this person is 
 still inclined to dispose of his watch r" 
 
 " Certainly," the watchmaker replied. " This young 
 prodigal, who has spent all his fortune, is now reduced 
 to sell his family jewels : hence the 1000 fr. will be wel- 
 come." 
 
 " Is he to be found?" 
 
 " Nothing easier : in a gambling-house he never quits." 
 
 " Well, then, sir, I am anxious to purchase the watch, 
 but it must be to-day. Have the kindness, then, to buy it 
 for me. After that, you will engrave on it his eminence's 
 arms, so that the two watches may be perfectly similar, 
 and . on your discretion the profit you make by the trans- 
 action will depend." 
 
 The watchmaker knew me, and probably suspected the 
 use I intended to make of the watch ; but he was assured 
 of my discretion, as the honour of my success would depend 
 on it. Hence he said : 
 
 " I only require a quarter of an hour to go to the 
 gambling-house, and I am confident your offer will be 
 accepted." 
 
 The quarter of an hour had not elapsed ere my negotiator 
 returned with the chronometer in his hand. 
 
 " Here it is!" he said with an air of triumph. "My 
 man received me like an envoy from Providence, and gave 
 me the watch without even counting the money. To-night 
 all will be ready." 
 
 In fact, that same evening the watchmaker brought me 
 the two chronometers, and handed me one. On comparing 
 them, it was impossible to detect the slightest difiference. 
 
 It cost me dear, but I was now certain of performing a 
 trick which must produce a decided effect. 
 
 The next day I proceeded to the Pontiff's palace, and 
 at six o'clock, upon a signal given by the Holy Father, I 
 stepped on the stage. I had never appeared before such 
 an imposing assembly. Pius VII., seated in a largo arm- 
 
74 MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 chair on a dais, occupied the foreground : near lilm were 
 seated the cardinals, and behind them were the different 
 prelates and dignitaries of the Church. 
 
 The Pope's face breathed benevolence, and it was fortu- 
 nate for me, for the sight of this smiling and gentle face 
 dissipated an unpleasant idea which had been strangely 
 troubling me for some moments. 
 
 " Suppose this performance," I said to [myself, " were 
 merely a feigned examination to make me confess my con- 
 nection with the infernal powers ? May not my words be 
 taken down, and perhaps Cagliostro's perpetual imprison- 
 ment be reserved as the punishment for my Innocent 
 experiments ?" 
 
 My reason soon dismissed such an absurdity — it was not 
 probable the Pope would lend himself to such an unworthy 
 snare. Although my fears were completely removed by 
 this simple reasoning, my opening address displayed my 
 feelings in some degree, for it seemed more like a justifi- 
 cation than the prelude to a performance. 
 
 "Holy Father!" I said, bowing respectfully, ** I am 
 about to show you some experiments to which the name of 
 ' White Magic ' has been most unjustly given. This title 
 was invented by charlatans to impress the multitude, but 
 it only signifies a collection of clever deceptions intended 
 to amuse the imagination by ingenious artifices." 
 
 Satisfied by the favourable impression my address pro- 
 duced, I gaily commenced my 'performance. I could not 
 descnbe to you, my dear lad, all the pleasure I felt on this 
 evening ; and the spectators seemed to take such lively 
 interest in all they saw, that I felt myself in unusual spirits. 
 The Pope himself was delighted. 
 
 " But, Monsieur le Comte," he continually said, with 
 charming simplicity, "how can you do that? I shall be 
 quite ill with merely trying to guess your secrets." 
 
 After the " blind man's game of piquet," which literally 
 astounded the audience, I perfonned the trick of the 
 " burnt writing," to which I owe an autograph I set a 
 great store by. This is how the trick is done : — 
 
 A person writes a sentence or two : he is then requested 
 to bum the paper, which must be afterwards found intact i 
 
A BUENT WEITING. 75 
 
 in a sealed envelope. I begged his Holiness to write a 
 sentence : lie consented, and wrote as follows : — 
 
 " I have much pleasure in stating that M. le Comte de 
 Grisy is an amiable sorcerer." 
 
 The paper was burned, and nothing could depict the 
 Pope's astonishment on finding it in the centre of a large 
 number of sealed envelopes. I received his permission to 
 keep this autograph. 
 
 To end my performance, and set the crown on my 
 exploits, 1 now proceeded to the trick I had invented for 
 the occasion. 
 
 Here I had several difficulties to contend with; the 
 
 greatest was certainly to induce Cardinal de to lend 
 
 me his watch, and that without asking him directly for it, 
 and, to succeed, I must have recourse to a ruse. At my 
 request several watches were offered me, but I returned 
 them with the excuse, more or less true, that, as they had 
 no peculiarity of shape, it would be difficult to prove the 
 identity of the one I chose. 
 
 " If any gentleman among j'ou," I added, " has a watch 
 of rather large size (this was the peculiarity of the 
 cardinal's), and would kindly lend it to me, I should 
 prefer it, as better suited for the experiment. I need not 
 say I will take the greatest care of it ; I only wish to prove 
 its superiority, if it really possess it, or, on the other hand, 
 to marvellously improve it," 
 
 All ej^es were naturally turned on the cardinal, who, it 
 was known, set great value on the exaggerated size of his 
 chronometer. He asserted, with some show of reason 
 perhaps, that the works acted more freely in a large case. 
 However, he hesitated to lend me his beloved watch, till 
 Pius VII. said to him, 
 
 " Cardinal, I fancy your watch will suit exactly ; oblige 
 me by handing it to M. de Grisy." 
 
 His eminence assented, though not without numberless 
 precautions; and when I had the chronometer in my 
 hands, I drew the attention of the Pope and the cardinals 
 to it, while pretending to admire the works and handsome 
 chasing. 
 
 " Is your watch a repeater ?" I then said to the cardinal. 
 
76 MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-IIOUDIN. 
 
 " No, sir, it is a chronometer, and watches of that degree 
 of accuracy are not usually encumbered with uimeces.sary 
 machinery." 
 
 " Indeed! a chronometer; then it must he English?" I 
 said with apparent simplicity. 
 
 "What, sir!" the cardinal replied, as if stung by my 
 remark, " do you think chronometers are only made hi 
 England? On the contrary, the best specimens have 
 always been made in France. What English maker 
 can be compared with Pierre Leroy, Ferdinand Berthoud, 
 or Breguet above all, who made that chronometer for 
 
 me 
 
 The Pope began to smile at the cardinal's energy. 
 
 " Well, then, we will select this chronometer," I said, 
 putting a stop to the conversation I had purposely started. 
 " I have, then, gentlemen, to prove to you its solidity and 
 excellent qualities. Kow for the first trial." 
 
 And I let the watch fall on the ground. A cry of teiTor 
 rose on all sides, while the cardinal, pale and trembling, 
 bounded from his seat, saying, with ill-suppressed wrath, 
 
 " You are playing a very sorry jest, sir." 
 
 *' Monseigneur," I said, with the greatest calmness, 
 " you have no occasion to be frightened ; I merely wash to 
 prove to these gentlemen the perfection of your Avatch. I 
 beg you not to be alarmed ; it will escape scathless from 
 all the trials I subject it to." 
 
 With these words I stamped on the case, which broke, 
 flattened, and soon presented but a shapeless mass. At 
 first, I really fancied the cardinal was going into a fit ; he 
 could scarcely restrain his passion; iDut the Pope then 
 turned to him : 
 
 " Come, cardinal, have you no confidence in our sorcerer ? 
 For my part, I laugh like a child at it, being convinced 
 there has been some clever substitution." 
 
 "Will your Holiness permit me to remark," I said, respect- 
 fully, " that there has been no substitution ? 1 appeal to 
 his eminence, who will recognize his own watch." 
 
 And I offered the cardinal the shapeless relics of his watch. 
 He examined them anxiously, and finding his arms engraved] 
 inside the case, said, with a deep sigh, | 
 
A AVATCH MELTED DOWN. 77 
 
 "Yes, that is certainly my watch. But," he added, 
 dryly, " I know not how you will escape, sir : at any 
 rate, you should have played this unjustifiable trick on 
 some object that might be replaced, for my chronometer is 
 unique !" 
 
 " Well, your excellency, I am enchanted at that circum- 
 stance, for it must enhance the credit of my experiment. 
 Now, with your permission, I will proceed." 
 
 " Good gracious me, sir, you did not consult me before 
 destroying the watch. Do what you please, it is no concern 
 of mine." 
 
 The identity of the cardinal's watch thus proved, I 
 wished to pass into the Pope's pocket the one I had bought 
 the previous evening. But I could not dream of this so long 
 as his Holiness remained seated. Hence, I sought some 
 pretext to make him rise, and soon found one. 
 
 A brass mortar, with an enormous pestle, was now brought 
 in. I placed it on the table, threw in the fragments of the 
 chronometer, and began pounding furiously. Suddenly, a 
 slight detonation was heard, and a vivid light came from 
 the vessel, which cast a ruddy hue over the spectators, and 
 produced a magical appearance. All this while, bending 
 over the mortar, I pretended to see something that filled me 
 with the liveliest astonishment. 
 
 Through respect for the Pope, no one ventured to rise, 
 but the Pontiff, yielding to his curiosity, approached 
 tlie table, followed by a portion of the audience. They 
 might look and look : nothing was to be seen but 
 flame. 
 
 " I know not whether I must attribute it to the dazed 
 state of my brain," said his Holiness, passing his hand over 
 his eyes, " but I can distinguish nothing." 
 
 I, too, had much the same idea, but far from confessing 
 it, I begged the Pope to come round the table and choose a 
 more favourable spot. During this time I slipped my 
 reserve watch into the Pope's pocket. The experiment 
 was certain, and the cardinal's watch had by this time 
 been reduced to a small ingot, which I held up to the 
 f^pectators. 
 
 " Kow," I said, " I will restore this ingot to its original 
 
78 MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 shape, and the transformation shall be performed during its 
 passage to the pocket of a person who cannot be suspected 
 of complicity." 
 
 *'Aha!" the Pope said, in a jocular tone, "that is be- 
 coming a little too strong. But what would you do, my 
 good sorcerer, if I asked you to choose my pocket ?" 
 
 *' Your Holiness need only order for me to obey." 
 
 " Well, Monsieur le Comte, let it be so." 
 
 " Your Holiness shall be immediately satisfied." 
 
 I then took the ingot in my fingers, showed it to 
 the company, and it disappeared on my uttering the word 
 "Pass!" 
 
 "-' The Pope, with manifestations of utter incredulity, thrust 
 his hand into his pocket. I soon saw him blush with con- 
 fusion, and draw out the watch, which he handed to the 
 cardinal as if afraid of burning his fingers. 
 
 At first it was supposed to be a mystification, as no one 
 could believe in such an immediate repair ; but when my 
 audience were assured that I had fulfilled my promise, I re- 
 ceived the applause so successful a trick deserved. 
 
 The next day the Pope sent me a rich diamond snuff- 
 box, while thanking me for all the pleasure I had occasioned 
 him. 
 
 This performance created a great sensation at Rome, and 
 every one flocked to see my marvels. Perhaps they hoped 
 to witness the famous trick of the " Broken Watch," which 
 I had perfoi-med at the Vatican. But though I was then 
 ver}'- extravagant, I was not so mad as to spend 1 200 francs 
 a night in the performance of a trick which could never 
 again be done under such favourable auspices. 
 
 An operatic company was attached to the theatre while I 
 performed, but their performances were suspended during 
 my stay in Eome. The manager employed this leisure time 
 to rehearse a fresh piece to be performed on my departure, 
 and this gave me a daily opportunity to mix with the 
 actors. 1 had formed a peculiar friendship with one of the 
 youngest of them, a charming lad of eighteen, with a tenor 
 voice, whose elegant and legular features fonued a singular 
 contrast to his employment. His feminine face, with his 
 small waist and timid demeanour, quite injured the effect 
 
ANTONIO AND ANTONIA. 79 
 
 when lie played the part of a lover; he looked like a 
 boarding school miss in man's clothes. Yet, I discovered 
 afterwards that this effeminate person contained a bold and 
 manly heart, for Antonio (such was the tenor's name) had 
 been engaged in several affairs of honour, in which he had 
 done his manly devoir. 
 
 At this part of Torrini's story I interrupted him, for the 
 name of Antonio struck me. 
 
 " What !" I said, " can it be that ?" 
 
 " Certainly ; the same person ! Your astonishment is 
 justifiable, but it will cease when I tell you that more than 
 twenty years have elapsed since the time I speak of. At 
 that period, Antonio did not wear a heavy black beard, 
 and his face had not yet been embrowned by the open air 
 and the fatigues of our laborious and nomadic life." 
 
 Antonio's mother was also engaged at the theatre ; she 
 performed in the ballets, and her name was Lauretta 
 Torrini. Though close upon forty, she had retained all 
 her pristine charms. She must have been very beautiful 
 in her time, but the greatest scandalmongers could not 
 reproach her with the least levity. She was the widow of 
 a government clerk, and had brought up her family by her 
 own labour. 
 
 Antonio was not her only child; she had borne a 
 daughter with him. These twins, as frequently happens, 
 had such a striking resemblance, that only their dress 
 distinguished them ; and they had been christened Antonio 
 and Antonia. The lad received a musical education at 
 the theatre, but Antonia was always sedulously kept from 
 the stage. After a careful education, her mother had 
 placed her in a milliner's shop, till she could set up for 
 herself. 
 
 I have dwelled so long on this family because, as you 
 can guess, it soon became my own. My friendship for 
 Antonio was not quite disinterested, for I owed to^t 
 an introduction to his sister. Antonia was lovely and 
 virtuous : I asked her hand, and was accepted. Our mar- 
 
80 MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 riage was to take place as soon as my engagement had ter- 
 juinated, and it was arranged that Lauretta and Antonio 
 ashould share our foi-tunes. 
 
 I have already said that Antonio appeared effeminate ; 
 but although large black eyes, fringed witli long eye- 
 livshes, and exquisitely pencilled eyebrows, a Grecian 
 nose, and fresh and ruddy lips, were almost wasted on 
 Antonio, still these advantages admirably suited my be- 
 trothed. Such a treasure could not long remain concealed : 
 An tenia was noticed, and all the rich young nobles 
 fluttered round her. But she loved me, and had no 
 difficulty in resisting the numerous and brilliant offers 
 made her. 
 
 While waiting the wished-for day, Antonia and I formed 
 plans for our future happiness. She would enjoy a travel- 
 ling life, and as she longed for a sea voyage, I promised to 
 take her to Constantinople. I wished to perform before 
 Selim III., who was considered an enlightened prince, and 
 hospitably treated the artists he assembled at his court. 
 All, then, seemed to smile on my plans, when one morn- 
 ing, while dreaming of these pleasant prospects, Antonio 
 suddenly entered my room. 
 
 " My dear Edmond," he said, " I defy you to guess 
 where I have been, and what has happened to me since 
 last evening. I must tell you, then, as prelude to my 
 ,stoiy, that, dragged, in spite of myself, into a drama, 
 which threatened to become very sanguinary, I turned it 
 into a farce, the details of which are worth hearing. You 
 ishall judge. 
 
 I was at the theatre yesterday, when a carpenter, a 
 worthy man in many respects, but who spends three parts 
 of his time in public-houses, came up and begged to tell 
 me a secret. 
 
 " Monsieur Antonio," he said, " if you wish to prevent a 
 <i;reat evil, you have no time to lose. I have just been 
 drinking with some of my comrades, and a man, whose 
 iicquaintance we had formed over the bottle, told us we 
 could gain a large sum easily. The proposal was so 
 agi'eeable that we accepted it unanimously, on condition of 
 
THE ABDDCTIOX. 81 
 
 knowing what was wanted of us. We were told, and this 
 is what we promised to do : — 
 
 " This evening, when your sister leaves her shop, we 
 are to surround her, as if quarrelling, and drown her 
 
 cries by our shouts. The Marquis d'A 's people will 
 
 manage the rest. Now do you understand ?" 
 
 I only understood too well, and, scarcely thanking the 
 carpenter, I rushed off at full speed. Fortunately my 
 brains did not fail me. I was in front of a gunsmith's : 
 I went in, bought a pair of pistols, and then hastened 
 home. 
 
 "Mother," I said, as I went in, "I have made a bet 
 that I should be taken for Antonia by putting on her 
 clothes. Dress me, then, quickly, and tell my sister I 
 beg her to leave the shop half an hour later than usual." 
 
 My mother did as I asked, and when I was dressed I so 
 perfectly resembled Antonia that she kissed me, and burst 
 into a hearty laugh at my pleasant idea. 
 
 Nine o'clock had just struck : it was the hour appointed 
 for the abduction. I hastened away, doing my best to 
 imitate my sister's walk and manner. My heart beat 
 violently when I saw this band of robbers and servants 
 approach me, and I instinctively put my hands on my 
 fire-arms ; but I soon reassumed the timid demeanour of a 
 young girl, and walked onwards. 
 
 The affair was executed just as I had been told : I was 
 carried off with all [proper respect, in spite of my feigned 
 resistance, and placed in a carriage with the blinds down^ 
 The horses started off at a gallop. 
 
 There was a man by my side whom I recognized in the- 
 
 gloom : it was certainly the Marquis d'A . I had tO' 
 
 endure his warm excuses, and then his passionate assur- 
 ances, which sent the blood to my cheeks, and I was 
 several times on the point of betraying myself, but my 
 vengeance was so exquisite and near that I suppressed my 
 anger. My purpose was, so soon as I found myself alone 
 with him, to challenge him to mortal combat. 
 
 Half an hour had scarce elapsed when we reached the 
 end of our journey. The marquis begged me to descend, 
 and politely offered me his hand to lead me into a small 
 
 Q 
 
82 MEMOmS OF ROBERT-HOUDIN, 
 
 isolated villa. "VVe entered a brilliantly-lighted room, 
 where some young gentlemen and ladies were awaiting us. 
 My abductor, radiant with victory, introduced me to his 
 friends and their companions, and received their felici- 
 tations. 
 
 I lowered my eyes for fear my passion might be noticed, 
 for I knew that this humiliating triumph had been re- 
 served for my sister, who would certainly have died of 
 shame. Five minutes later a servant opened the folding- 
 doors, and announced that supper was served. 
 
 " To table, friends," the marquis exclaimed — "to table, 
 and let each take the place he likes best!'* And he 
 ofifered me his aim. 
 
 We seated ourselves round a sumptuous repast, the 
 marquis waiting on me, for he had dismissed all the 
 attendants. For some time I refused to touch anything ; 
 but you know, my dear Edmond, Nature has claims which 
 cannot be neglected. I was fearfully hungry, and my 
 appetite was sharpened by the scent of the dainty dishes. 
 In spite of my anger, I was forced to give up my plans of 
 abstention, and yielded to temptation. 
 
 I could not eat without drinking, and there was no 
 water on the table. The other ladies had no objection to 
 wine, so I followed their example. Still I was very 
 moderate, and, to play my part properly, I affected great 
 reserve and extreme timidity. 
 
 The marquis was delighted to see me behaving thus. 
 He addressed some compliments to me, but noticing they 
 were disagreeable, he did not press me, feeling assured 
 that he could take his revenge at a more suitable season. 
 
 We had reached the dessert ; the whole of the company 
 were in a charming humour. May I confess to you, my 
 dear Edmond, that the sight of these merry comrades and 
 coquettish dames produced the same effect on my senses 
 as the dishes had done on my appetite, and insensibly 
 dispelled my gloomy ideas ? I had no strength left to 
 continue the dramatic character I had undertaken, and I 
 sought a more satisfactory conclusion. I soon made up 
 my mind. 
 
 Three toasts had been drunk in succession: "Wine!" 
 
THE MARQUIS DECEIVED. "83 
 
 *' Play !" *' Love !" The ladies had joined in emptying 
 their glasses, while I remained calm and silent. The 
 marquis begged me -in vain to join in the general gaiety. 
 Suddenly I rose, glass in hand, and assuming the free-and- 
 easy manner of a soldier — 
 
 *' Per Bacco !" I shouted, in a barytone voice, giving the 
 marquis a hearty slap on the shoulder. "Drink, my 
 friends, to the lovely eyes of these ladies !" Then I drained 
 my glass at a draught, and trolled out a lively ditty. 
 
 I cannot describe the marquis's feelings ; all I know is, 
 he turned to stone under my hand. His friends regarded 
 me in stupor, taking me, doubtlessly, for a maniac, 
 while the women laughed convulsively at my strange 
 outbreak. 
 
 " Well, gentlemen," I continued, " why are you sur- 
 prized ? Do you not recognize Antonio Torrini, the tenor, 
 all alive and well, and prepared to accept anybody's 
 -challenge with the pistol or the glass, he doesn't care 
 which." At the same time I laid my pistols on the 
 table. 
 
 At these words, the marquis at length awoke from 
 the torpor into which the evanishment of his sweet dreams 
 had plunged him, and he raised his hand to strike me in 
 the face. But his eyes no sooner met mine, than, yielding 
 ,to the influence of an illusion which he abandoned with 
 -such pain, he fell back on his chair. 
 
 ^' No !" he said, " I cannot strike a woman." 
 
 " Oh, as for that, M. le Marquis," I said, as I left the 
 table, " I only ask ten minutes to appear before you in my 
 proper attire." I then went into an adjoining room, 
 where I doffed gown, petticoats, and finery : I had kept 
 on all my own clothes under my feminine masquerade, with 
 the exception of my coat. That article of clothing not 
 being indispensable to receive a blow, and as I was in 
 fighting costume, I returned to the dining-room. 
 
 During my absence the scene had changed. I seemed 
 to have " missed my cue," as they say in the theatre when 
 an actor does not arrive in time to reply. All the guests 
 regarded me with smiles, and one coming up, said : 
 
 "Monsieur Antonio, my friend's seconds and yours, 
 
 G 2 
 
84 MEMOIRS OP ROBERT-HOUDIIf. 
 
 appointed ex officio during your absence, are agreed that 
 you have taken ample satisfaction, and have no occasion to 
 fight. Do you approve of our decision ?" 
 
 I offered my hand to the marquis, who took it with very 
 ill grace, for he evidently could not stomach the bitter 
 trick I had played him. This denouement satisfied my 
 vengeance, and I withdrew. But, before leaving, each of 
 us pledged our honour to discretion, in which the ladiea 
 joined. 
 
 After thanking Antonio for his devotion to me, and 
 complimenting him on his quickness, I added : — 
 
 " These gentlemen acted very gallantly in confiding a 
 secret to the ladies ; but I, who flatter myself I can read 
 the human heart, say with Francois I., 
 
 Souvent femme varie, 
 Bieii fol est qui s'y fie. 
 
 For this reason the marriage shall take place the day 
 after to-morrow, and in three days we will start for Con- 
 stantinople." 
 
 Antonio loved his sister as much as myself, and he was 
 right (Torrini added), for she was the most perfect woman 
 eai-th ever saw. She was an angel ! 
 
 The Count de Grisy was so excited by these remi- 
 niscences, that he raised his arms to heaven, where he 
 seemed to seek the woman he had so deeply loved. But 
 he fell back on his pillow again, exhausted by the agony 
 the disarrangement of his bandages produced. He was 
 forced to break off his narrative till the next day. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 Continuation of Torrini's History— The Grand Turk orders a Perform- 
 ance—A marvellous Trick— A Page cut in two— Pitying Protest of 
 the Harem — Agreeable Surprise — Return to France — Torrini's Son 
 killed — Madness— Decay — My first Performance — An annoying 
 Accident— I return Home. 
 
 The next day, Torrini continued his narrative, without 
 awaiting any request from me : 
 
THE SULTAN S PALACE. 85 
 
 On arriving at Constantinople, we enjoyed for some time 
 a delicious rest, whose charm was heightened by all the 
 intoxication of the honeymoon. At the end of the month, 
 however, I thought our mutual happiness ought not to 
 prevent me trying to realize the plan I had formed of per- 
 forming in the presence of Selim III. ; but, before asking 
 this favour, I thought of giving some performances in the 
 town. However great my reputation might be in Italy, 
 it was hardly probable that my name had crossed the 
 Mediterranean : hence I had a new reputation to achieve. 
 
 I had a theatre erected, in which my success continued : 
 orowds came to see me, and the highest personages were 
 my constant visitors. I may be permitted to boast of this 
 success, my lad, for the Turks, naturally indolent and 
 phlegmatic, when utterly astounded by the sight I offered 
 them, reminded me, by their enthusiasm, of my excitable 
 Italian spectators. 
 
 The grand vizir himself came to one of my perform- 
 unces. He spoke about it to his sovereign, and excited his 
 curiosity to such a degree, that I received an invitation, or 
 rather a command, to court. I proceeded in all haste to 
 the palace, where the apartment was shown me in which 
 the performance would take place. A body of workmen 
 was placed at my orders, and I was allowed all latitude 
 for my theatrical arrangements. Only one stipulation was 
 made : the stage must be exactly in front of a gilded 
 lattice, behind which I was told, the Sultan's wives would 
 be seated. 
 
 Within two days my theatre was erected and completely 
 decorated. It represented a garden, filled with natural 
 flowers, whose lively colours and fragrant scent delighted 
 both sight and smell. At the rear, and in the midst of 
 dense foliage, a fountain fell back, in thousands of drops, 
 into a crystal basin, sparkling like diamonds in the brilliant 
 light, while, at the same time, the falling water deliciously 
 cooled the air. Lastly, to my right and left, hedges of 
 flowers served as side scenes and laboratory, while the 
 buffet, loaded with my brilliant apparatus, was erected in 
 the centre of this Garden of Armida. 
 
 When all was ready, the Sultan and his numerous suite 
 
88 MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOUDIN 
 
 took the places assigned to them, according to their court 
 precedence. The Sultan reclined on a sofa, with the grand 
 vizir by his side, while an interpreter, keeping respect- 
 fully in the rear, translated my remarks to him. When 
 the curtain rose, a shower of rose-leaves fell on the 
 stage, and formed an odoriferous and deliciously soft 
 carpet. I then appeared, dressed in a rich Louis XV, 
 costume. 
 
 I will spare you the account of my tricks, with the ex- 
 ception of one, which, like the " broken watch," was 'the 
 inspiration of the moment. I must add, that my spec- 
 tators had been already considerably startled when I 
 performed it. 
 
 Addressing Selim in the grave and solemn tone proper 
 to a magician, I said : 
 
 " Noble Sultan, I am about to proceed from simple tricks 
 of skill to the sublime science of magic : but, in order that 
 my incantations may succeed, I must address myself 
 directly to your august highness. Will you be pleased to 
 lend me this ornament which I require ?" 
 
 And I pointed to a splendid necklace of pearls which 
 adorned his neck. The Sultan handed it to me, and I 
 placed it in the hands of Antonio, who was helping me, in 
 a page's costume. 
 
 "It is well known," I continued, " that magicians 
 possess unlimited powers, for they hold in subjection fami- 
 liar spirits, who blindly obey their masters' orders. Let 
 these spirits, then, prepare to obey me, for I am about to 
 summon them." 
 
 Here I majestically traced a circle round me with my 
 wand, and pronounced, in a low voice, certain magic spells. 
 Then I turned to my page, to take the collar from him, but 
 it had disappeared. In vain I asked Antonio for it: his 
 only reply was a hoarse and sarcastic laugh, as if he were 
 possessed by one of the spirits I had summoned. 
 
 " Mighty prince," I then said to the Sultan," " believe 
 me when I say that, far from sharing in this audacious 
 theft, I am forced to confess myself the victim of a plot I 
 did not at all foresee. But your highness may be reassured : 
 we possess means of forcing our subordinates to return to 
 
THE PAGE SAWN ASUNDER. 87 
 
 their duty. These means are as powerful as they are ter- 
 rible, and I will oflfer you an example." 
 
 At my summons two slaves brought in a long and narrow 
 chest, and a trestle for sawing wood. Antonio seemed to 
 be terribly alarmed, but I coldly ordered the slaves to seize 
 him, place him in the chest, the cover of which was imme- 
 diately nailed down, and lay it across the trestle. Then, 
 taking up a saw, I prepared to cut the chest asunder, when 
 piercing cries were heard from behind the gilt lattice — the 
 Sultan's wives were protesting against my barbarity. I 
 stopped a moment to give them time to recover; but so 
 soon as I set to work again, new protestations, in which 
 I distinguished threats, compelled me to suspend my 
 operations. 
 
 Not knowing if I might be allowed to address the gilt 
 lattice, I determined to reassure these sympathizing ladies 
 indirectly. 
 
 " Gentlemen," I said to my numerous audience, " have 
 no fears, I beg, for the culprit; instead of feeling any 
 pain, T assure you he will experience the most delightful 
 sensations." 
 
 It was evident that my statement was believed, for silence 
 was restored, and I could continue my experiment. The 
 chest was at length divided into two parts ; I raised them 
 so that each represented a pedestal ; I then placed them 
 side by side, and covered them with an enormous wicker 
 cone, over which I threw a large black cloth, on which 
 cabalistic signs were embroidered in silver. This duly 
 performed, 1 recommenced my little farce of magic circles 
 and bombastic words ; when suddenly the deep silence was 
 interrupted by two voices performing an exquisite duet 
 beneath the black cloth. 
 
 During this time Bengal lights were kindled all around 
 as if by enchantment. At length the fires and the voices 
 having gradually died away, a noise was heard, the cone 
 
 and the cloth were upset, and All the spectators uttered 
 
 a cry of surprise and admiration : for two pages, exactly alike 
 appeared on the pedestals, holding a silver salver, on which 
 lay the collar of pearls. My two Antonios walked up to the 
 Sultan, and respectfully offered him his rich ornament. 
 
88 MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 The whole audience had risen as if to give more effect 
 to the applause bestowed on me ; the Sultan liimself 
 thanked me in his own language, which I did not under- 
 stand, but I fancied I read in his face an expression of deep 
 satisfaction. The next day an officer of the palace came to 
 compliment me on behalf of his master, and offered me tho 
 collar which had been so cleverly juggled away the pre- 
 vious evening.* 
 
 The trick of the two pages, as I called it, was one of the 
 best I ever performed, and yet it was probably one of the 
 most simple. Of course you understand, my dear boy, that 
 Antonio disposed of the collar while I distracted public 
 attentio;! by my incantations. You also understand that, 
 while he was being nailed up in the chest, he escaped 
 through an opening corresponding with a trap in the stage ; 
 hence I had only to cut through planks. Lastly, by the 
 aid of the cone and the cloth, Antonio and his sister, dressed 
 precisely alike, came up through the trap and took their 
 places on the pedestals. The viise en scene, and the coolness 
 of the performers, did the rest. 
 
 This trick created great excitement in the city; the 
 story, passing from mouth to mouth, soon attained the pro- 
 portions of a miracle, and contributed much to the success 
 of my remaining performances. 
 
 I might have realized a large fortune by making a tour 
 through the Turkish provinces, but I was mortally tired of 
 the peaceful life I was leading, and I felt the need of 
 changing my ground and seeking fresh excitement. Be- 
 sides, I began to feel a degree of nostalgia, and as my wife 
 begged me to return to Italy, or some other Christian 
 country, as she did not wish our first-born to come into the 
 world among Pagans, we set out for France. 
 
 It was my intention to proceed to Paris, but on arriving 
 at Marseilles, I read in the papers the advertisements of a 
 conjuror of the name of Olivier. His programme con- 
 tained the whole of Pinetti's tricks, which was almost my 
 own. Which of the two was the plagiarist ? I have reason 
 
 * Selim's was evidently a model court. If the present Sultan were 
 to offer a conjuror a pearl necklace, the chances are it would reach him 
 in the shape of Venice beads. — l. w. 
 
A CHANGE OF PERFORMANCE. 89 
 
 to believe it was Olivier. At any rate, having no desire to 
 engage in a new passage of arms, I evacuated the town. 
 
 It is impossible for me, my friend, to describe to you my 
 itinerary during sixteen years ; suffice it to say, I traversed 
 the whole of Europe, stopping, of preference, in the chief 
 towns. For a long time my reputation remained at its 
 zenith, but suddenly, like Pinetti, I was destined to expe- 
 rience the inconstancy of Fortune. 
 
 One fine day I found my star beginning to pale ; the 
 public did not flock so eagerly to my performances, I no 
 longer heard the bravos that used to greet my appearance 
 on the stage, and the spectators appeared to me indifi'erent. 
 How was this ? What could be the cause of this capricious 
 change ? My repertoire was still the same : it was my 
 Italian one, of which I was so proud, and for which I had 
 made such sacrifices ; I had introduced no change ; the 
 tricks I submitted to the public were the same which had 
 been so warmly accepted. I felt, too, that I had lost none 
 of my vigour, skill, or spirit. 
 
 Precisely because I had made no change, the public had 
 begun to grow indifferent; as an author has observed, 
 very justly, " the artist who does not rise, descends ;" and 
 this was peculiarly applicable to my position : while civi- 
 lization had been jDrogressing, I remained stationary — 
 hence, I was going down. 
 
 When this truth struck me, I made a complete reform 
 in my programme. The card tricks, no longer possessing 
 the charm of novelty, as the meanest jugglers could do 
 them, were nearly all suppressed, and I substituted other 
 experiments. 
 
 The public like, and run after, touching scenes : I in- 
 vented one, which, in this respect, would certainly satisfy 
 them, and draw them back to me. But why did Heaven 
 allow me to succeed? why did my brain conceive this 
 fatal idea? (Torrini exclaimed, raising his hands to 
 heaven, and his eyes filling with tears.) Had it not been 
 so, I should still have my son, and should not have lost my 
 Antonia ! 
 
 It was some time before Torrini could continue his nar- 
 
90 MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 rative, for these terriblo reminiscences caused liim mental 
 torture. At length, after holding his hand over his eyes 
 for some time, as if trying to concentrate himself in his 
 grief, he continued : — 
 
 About two years ago I was at Strasburg ; I was per- 
 forming at the theatre, and every one was anxious to see 
 my touching scene, which I had named " The Son of 
 William Tell." My son Giovanni played the part of 
 Walter, the son of the Swiss hero, but, instead of placing 
 the apple on his head, he held it between his teetli. On a 
 given signal, a spectator, armed with a pistol, fired at 
 Giovanni, and the ball lodged in the heart of the fmit. 
 
 Owing to the success of this trick, my money-box was 
 soon filled again. This restored my confidence in the 
 future, and, far from profiting by the lessons of adversity, 
 I reassumed my luxurious habits, as I fancied I had again 
 pinioned Fortune, and she could not slip from me. 
 
 This illusion was fearfully dispelled. 
 
 " The Son of William Tell," of which T had made a 
 separate act, usually terminated the perfoimance. We 
 were about to execute it for the thirtieth time, and I had 
 ordered the curtain to be dropped in order to have the 
 stage arranged as the public square of Altorf, but all at 
 once, my son, who had just put on the traditional Helvetic 
 costume, came to me, complaining of a sudden indisposition, 
 and begging me to hurry on the performance, I had just 
 seized the bell-rope to wai'n the carpenters to raise the 
 curtain, when my son fell down in a fainting fit. 
 
 Without caring for the impatience of the public, we paid 
 all attention to my poor Giovanni, and I bore him to a 
 window. The fresh air soon restored him — still, there was 
 a mortal pallor on his face, which would prevent his ap- 
 pearance in public. I was myself assailed by a strange 
 presentiment, which urged me to stop the performance, and 
 I resolved to announce it to the public. 
 
 The curtain was drawn up, and, with features contracted 
 by anxiety, I walked to the footlights, Giovanni even paler 
 than myself, and scarce able to stand, being at my side. I 
 briefly explained the accident that had happened, rendering 
 
A FATAL TRICK. 91 
 
 it impossible to perform the final experimeftt, and ofiered 
 to return the entrance money to any who might feel dis- 
 satisfied. But at these words, which might excite great 
 confusion and grave abuses, my courageous son, making a 
 supremo effort, stated that he felt better, and able to per- 
 form his share in the trick, which, after all, was passive, 
 and not at all fatiguing. 
 
 The public received this intimation with lively applause, 
 and I, the insensate and barbarous father, taking no heed of 
 the warning Heaven had sent me, had the cruelty, the mad- 
 ness, to accept this generous act of devotion. Only one 
 word was needed to prevent ruin, dishonour, and death, 
 yet that word died away on my lips ! Listening solely to 
 the noisy applause of the audience, I allowed the perform- 
 ance to commence. 
 
 I have already stated the nature of the trick that attracted 
 the whole town ; it consisted in substitiiting one ball for 
 another. A chemist had taught me how to make a metallic 
 composition bearing an extraordinary resemblance to lead. 
 I had made balls of it, which, when placed by the side of 
 the real ones, could not be detected. The only precaution 
 necessary was not to press them too hard, as they were of a 
 very friable nature ; but for the same reason, when inserted 
 in the pistol, they fell into an impalpable powder, and did 
 not go further than the wad. 
 
 Till now I had never dreamed of any danger in the per- 
 formance of this trick, and, indeed, I had taken all possible 
 precautions. The false bullets were contained in a small 
 box, of which I alone had the key, and I only opened it at 
 the moment of action. That evening I had been peculiarly 
 careful ; then how can I explain the frightful error ? I can 
 only accuse fatality. So much is certain — a leaden bullet 
 had been mixed with the others in the box, and was inserted 
 in the j)istol. 
 
 Conceive all the horror of such an action ! Imagine 
 a father, with a smile on his lips, giving the signal 
 which will deprive his son of life— it is frightful, is it 
 not? 
 
 The pistol was fired, and the spectator, with cruel adroit- 
 ness, had aimed so truly that the bullet crashed through 
 
92 MEMOIRS OK ROBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 my son's forehead. He fell forward witli his face to the 
 ground, rolled over once or twice, and 
 
 For a moment I remained motionless, still smiling at the 
 audience, and incapable of believing in such a misfortune. 
 In a second, a thousand thoughts crossed my brain, (.'ould 
 it be an illusion, a surprise I had prepared, and which I 
 had momentarily forgotten? or was it the return of my 
 son's attack ? 
 
 Paralyzed by doubt and horror, my feet clung to the 
 stage; but the blood welling profusely from the wound 
 violently recalled me to the terrible reality. At last I 
 understood all, and, mad with agony, I cast myself on my 
 eon's lifeless corj^se. 
 
 I know not what took place afterwards, or what became 
 of me. When I recovered the use of my senses, I found 
 myself in prison, with two men before me, a physician 
 and a magistrate. The latter, sympathizing with me, 
 was kind enough to perform his painful mission with all 
 possible regard for my feelings ; but I could scarce 
 understand the questions he addressed to me ; I knew not 
 what to reply, and I contented myself with shedding 
 tears. 
 
 I was fully committed, and brought up at the next assizes. 
 I assure you I took my place in the dock with indescribable 
 delight, hoping I should only leave it to receive the just 
 punishment of the crime I had committed. I was resigned 
 to die ; I even wished it, and I determined to do all in my 
 power to get rid of a life which was odious to me. Hence, 
 I offered no defence ; but the court requested a barrister to 
 undertake my cause, and he defended me with great skill. 
 i was found guilty of " Homicide through imprudence," 
 and sentenced to six months' imprisonment, which I passed 
 in an infirmary. Here I saw Antonio again for the firet 
 time, who brought me terrible news : my dear Antonia, 
 unable to endure such complicated misery, had died of a 
 broken heart. 
 
 This new blow aifected me so much that I was nearly 
 dead. I spent the greater period of my imprisonment in a 
 «tate of weakness akin to death ; but at length my vigorous 
 constitution overcame all these shocks, and I regained my 
 
93 
 
 health. I had quite recovered when the doors of my prison 
 were opened. 
 
 Grief and remorse accompanied me wherever I went, an(2 
 cast me into a state of apathy from which nothing could 
 arouse me. For three months I behaved like a madman, 
 running about the country, and only eating just enough to 
 keep me from perishing of hunger. I went forth at day- 
 break, and did not return till night. I could not possibly 
 have said what I did during these lengthened excursions, 
 but I probably walked about with no other object than to 
 change place. 
 
 Such an existence could not last long ; poverty, and her 
 mournful handmaids, soon preyed upon me. My wife's 
 illness, my imprisonment, and our expenses during these 
 three months of listlessness had swallowed up, not only my 
 mone}^, but also all my apparatus. Antonio explained our 
 situation to me, and begged me to recommence my per- 
 formances. 
 
 I could not leave this good brother, this excellent friend, 
 in such a critical position ; I therefore acceded to his en- 
 treaties, on condition that I should change mj'- name to 
 Torrini, and never perform in any theatre. Antonio ottered 
 to arrange everything to my wish. By selling the valuable 
 presents I had received on various occasions, and which he 
 had managed to secrete from the officers, he paid my debts, 
 and had the carriage built in which we suffered this pain- 
 ful accident. 
 
 From Strasburg we proceeded to Basle. My first per- 
 formances were stamped with the deepest sorrow, but I 
 gradually substituted skill and care for my gaiety and good 
 spirits, and the public accepted the change. After visiting 
 the principal towns in Switzerland, we returned to France-, 
 and it was thus I found you, my dear boy, on the road be- 
 tween Tours and Blois. 
 
 I saw by Torrini's last sentences, and the manner in which 
 he tried to shorten his narrative, that he not only required 
 rest, but also to recover from the painful emotions these 
 melancholy reminiscences had evoked. A few words, too, 
 Torrini had dropped confirmed my notion that he was in a 
 
94 MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 pecimiary dilemma ; hence, I left him under the pretence of 
 lotting him sleep, and begged Antonio take a walk with mo. 
 I wanted to remind him it was time to cany out. the plan 
 we had formed, which consisted in giving a few perform- 
 ances at Aubusson, without dropping a word of it to our 
 dear master. Antonio was of my opinion ; but when it 
 came to deciding which of us should perform, he positively 
 asserted he knew no more of the conjuring art than, he had 
 been obliged to learn — he could slip a card, a handkerchief, 
 or a coin into a person's pocket, if required, but nothing 
 more. I learned later that Antonio, though not very skil- 
 ful, knew more than he pretended. 
 
 We decided that I should represent the sorcerer ; and I 
 must have been animated with a great desire to help Torrini, 
 and pay him in part the debt of gratitude I owed, ere I 
 consented to mount a stage so suddenly. For, although I 
 had shown my friends some of my tricks, the performance 
 had always been gratuitous ; now I had to do with spectators 
 who paid for their seats, and this caused me considerable 
 apprehension. 
 
 Still, my resolution once formed, I proceeded with 
 Antonio to the mayor's, in order to obtain his permission 
 to perform. This magistrate was an excellent man ; aware 
 of the accident that had happened to us, and that he had it 
 in his power to do a good deed, he offered us the gratuitous 
 use of a concert room. More than this, to give us a chance 
 of forming some acquaintances who might be of use to us, 
 he begged us to come to his house the next Sunday evening. 
 We accepted this offer gratefullj^, and had reason to con- 
 gratulate ourselves on it. The mayor's guests, pleased with 
 certain tricks I showed them, faithfully kept their promise 
 of attending my first performance, and not one was missing. 
 
 My heart panted audibly when the curtain rose, and I 
 was obliged to whisper to myself that the spectators, 
 aware of the object of my perfoiTnance, would be inclined 
 to look over much. Some cheering applause restored my 
 confidence, and I got through my first tricks veiy de- 
 cently. This success heightened my assurance, and at 
 length I acquired a degree of coolness I did not think 
 myself capable of. 
 
  MY FIRST PERFORMANCE. 95 
 
 It is true, I was perfectly au fait in my tricks, through 
 having seen Torrini perform them so often. The principal 
 ones were the Trowel, the Pyramids of Egypt, the Bird 
 Dead and Alive, and the Omelette in the Hat. I concluded 
 with the Blind Man's Game of Piquet, which I had care- 
 fully studied ; I was fortunate enough to succeed, and was 
 warmly applauded. 
 
 An accident that happened during the performance sin- 
 gularly lessened the joy I felt in my triumph. I had 
 borrowed a hat to make an omelette in. Those who have 
 seen this trick are aware that it is chiefly intended to pro- 
 duce a laugh, and that the object borrowed runs no risk. 
 I had got through the first part excellently, consisting in 
 breaking the eggs, beating them, throwing in the salt and 
 pepper, and pouring it all into the hat. After this, I had 
 to feign the frying of the omelette ; I placed a candle on 
 the ground, then, holding the hat sufSciently high above it 
 to escape the flame, I began turning it gently round, while 
 making some of the stereotyped jokes adapted to the trick. 
 The public laughed so heartily and loudly that I could 
 scarce hear myself speak, but I could not suspect the cause 
 of their hilarity. Unfortunately, I detected it only too soon. 
 A strong scent of burning made me turn my eyes on the 
 candle : it had gone out. I then looked at the hat : the 
 crown was quite burned and stained. I had kept on turn- 
 ing the hat round unsuspectingly, until I at length put it 
 on the top of the candle and covered it with grease. 
 
 Quite dazed by this sight, I stopped, not knowing how to 
 escape. Fortunately for me, my alarm, though so truthful, 
 was regarded as a well-played farce : it was supposed this 
 was only a heightened effect, and this confidence in my 
 skill was an additional torture, for my supernatural power 
 could not repair a hat. My only chance was to gain time ; 
 so I continued the trick, with a tolerably easy air, and pro- 
 duced to the public a splendidly cooked omelette, which I 
 had enough courage left to season with a few jokes. 
 
 Still, that quarter of an hour of which Kabelais speaks 
 had arrived. I must restore the hat, and publicly confess 
 myself a clumsy blockhead. I had resigned myself to this, 
 and was going to do so with all the dignity I could muster, 
 
96 MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 when I heard Antonio call me from the side. His voice 
 restored my courage, for I felt assured he had prepared 
 some way for my escape. I went up to him, and found him 
 standing with a hat in his hand. 
 
 " Look here," he said, exchanging it for the one I held, 
 " it's yours ; but no matter, keep a good face : rub it as if 
 you were removing the stains, and, on handing it to the 
 owner, ask him, gently, to read what is at the bottom." 
 
 I did as he told me ; and the owner of the burnt hat, after 
 receiving mine, was going to betray me, when I pointed to 
 the note fastened in the crown. It ran as follows : — 
 
 " An act of carelessness caused me to commit a fault, 
 which I will repair. To-morrow I will do myself the 
 honour of asking your hatter's address : in the mean while, 
 be kind enough to act as my accomplice." 
 
 My request was granted, for my secret was honestly kept, 
 and my professional honour saved. The success of this per- 
 formance induced me to give several others : the receipts 
 were excellent, and we realized a very fair sum. Immense 
 Avas our joy when we carried our treasure triumphantly to 
 Torrini. That worthy man, after listening to all the details 
 of our plot, was half inclined to scold us for our secrecy, 
 but he could not find heart to do so. He thanked us most 
 heartily, and we began to set matters straight again, as our 
 master was now convalescent, and could attend to his own 
 business. Torrini paid all his creditors in full, purchased 
 two horses, and, having nothing further to do at Aubusson, 
 he determined on starting. 
 
 The moment of our separation had arrived, and my old 
 friend had been arming himself for it during several days. 
 The parting was painful to us all ; a father quitting his son, 
 without hope of ever seeing him again, could not have dis- 
 played more violent grief than did Torrini when pressing 
 me in his arms for the last time. I, too, felt inconsolable 
 at the loss of two friends with whom I would so gladly 
 have passed my life. 
 
THE PRODIGAL SO^f. 97 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 TJie Prodigal Son— Mademoiselle Houdin — I go to Paris — iNIy Mar- 
 riage —Comte— Studies of the Public — A skilful Manager — Rose- 
 coloured Tickets — A musky Style — The King of Hearts — Ventrilo- 
 quism— Tlie Mystiflers mystified — Father Roujol — Jules de Rovere 
 — Origin of the word prestidigitateur. 
 
 How my heart beat when I returned to my native town I 
 I felt as if I liad been absent an age, and yet it was only 
 six months. The tears stood in my eyes as I embraced 
 father and mother : I was stifled with emotion. I have 
 since made long journey's in foreign countries ; I have 
 always returned to my family safely, but never, I can 
 declare, have I been so profoundly affected as on this 
 occasion. Perhaps it is the same with this impression 
 as with so many others, habit at last renders it flat. 
 
 I found my father very quiet on my account, for I had 
 employed a trick to ease his mind. A watchmaker of my 
 ncquaintance had sent him my letters, as if from Angers, 
 and he had also forwarded me the replies. Still, I must 
 furnish some reason for my return, and I hesitated about 
 describing my stay with Torrini. At length, however, 
 urged by that desire, common to all travellers, of narrating 
 their travelling impressions, I gave an account of my ad- 
 ventures, even to their minutest details. 
 
 My mother, fi-ightened, and thinking I was still brain- 
 struck, did not await the end of my narrative to send for a 
 ph3'sician, who reassured her by stating, what my face 
 indeed confirmed, that I was in a state of perfect health. 
 
 It may be thought, perhaps, that I have dwelt too long 
 on the events that followed my poisoning ; but I was com- 
 pelled to do so, for the experience I acquired from Torrini, 
 his history, and our conversations, had a considerable in- 
 fluence on my future life. Before that period my inclina- 
 tion for conjuring was very vague : from that time it 
 gained a complete mastery over me. 
 
 Still, I was bound to wi-estle against this feeling with all 
 
 H 
 
98 MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 my energy, for it was not presumable that my father, who 
 had unwillingly j^elded to my passion for watchmaking, 
 would be so weak as to let me try a novel and most sin- 
 gular profession. I could, certainly, take advantage of my 
 being of age, and my own master ; but, besides my un- 
 willingness to grieve my father, I reflected, too, that as my 
 fortune was veiy small, I ought not to ri^k it without his 
 consent. These reasons induced me to defer, if not re- 
 nounce, my plans. 
 
 Besides, my success at Aubusson had not altered my 
 decided opinion about conjuring, that a man who wishes to 
 be thought capable of perfoiming incomprehensible things 
 should have attained an age which leaves it to be supposed 
 that his superiority is the result of lengthened study. The 
 public may pennit a man of forty to deceive them, but they 
 will not bear it from a young man. 
 
 After a few days devoted to killing the fatted calf, I 
 entered the shop of a Blois watchmaker, who set me to 
 work eleaning and brushing. As I have already said, this 
 mechanical and wearisome task reduces the journeyman 
 watchmaker to the level of an automaton. Each day was 
 spent in the same monotonous round, here a spring to 
 repair, there a pin to replace (for cylinder watches were 
 rare at that period), a chain to refasten; lastly, after a 
 cursory examination of the works, a turn of the brush to 
 make all bright again. Still I am far from wishing to run 
 down the trade of a repairing watchmaker, and I can 
 always honour the skill employed in repairing a watch 
 by doing as little as possible. 
 
 Sometimes, it may be remarked, a watch comes back 
 from the mender's in as bad a state as when it went. It 
 is true, but with whom is the fault ? In my belief, with 
 the public. In the country, more especially, it is im- 
 possible to perform repairs conscientiously, for the public 
 bargain about their watch or clock as 'they would do in 
 buying vegetables. The consequence is, the watchmaker 
 is forced to^ compound with his conscience, and the cus- 
 tomer loses his money. 
 
 One thing is certain : I did not like the trade, and I was 
 growing atrociously idle. But if I were cold and indolent 
 
PRIVATE THEATRICALS. 99 
 
 as regarded watch repairing, I felt a devouring need for 
 activity in some other department. To satiafy this, I gave 
 myself up entirely to an amusement v^hich delighted me — 
 I became an amateur actor. 
 
 No one, I fancy, can blame me for this ; for, among those 
 who read my confessions, I am sure there is hardly one 
 who has not performed in some shape. From the boy who 
 recites a speech [at the school distribution of prizes, up to 
 the old gentleman who often accepts the part of " heavy 
 father " at one of those agreeable j)arties arranged on long 
 winter evenings, not one but enjoys the sweet satisfaction 
 of being applauded. I, too, had this weakness ; and, urged 
 on by my travelling recollections, I wished to appear once 
 more before the public, who had already treated me so 
 kindly. 
 
 Some young friends joined me in forming a light comedy 
 company, and I had the pleasure of performing all Perlet's 
 parts in the most fashionable pieces of the day. Our per- 
 formance was gratis ; hence, I need not say we had croM'ded 
 audiences. Of course, too, we were all wonderful actors — 
 at least, people told us so — and our gratified self-love found 
 no cause for refusing their praise. 
 
 Unfortunately for our brilliant success, rivalry and 
 wounded feelings, as so frequently happens, produced 
 discord among us, and at last only the hairdresser and 
 candle-snuifer were left of our goodly company. The^e 
 two faithful followers, finding themselves thus abandoned, 
 held a council, and, after mature deliberation, decided that 
 they would accept each other's resignation, as they could 
 not perform alone. In order to explain the heroic per- 
 sistency of these two artistes, I may as well state they 
 were the only persons paid for their services. 
 
 My father regretted to see me leave work for pleasure, 
 and, in order to bring me back to healthy ideas, he formed 
 a plan which must have the double advantage of improving 
 my conduct, and tying me down to his side : in short, he 
 meant to establish me in business, and make me marry. 
 
 I do not know — or, rather, I will not say — why I de- 
 clined the latter proposal, under the pretext that I felt no 
 inclination for marriage. As for my beginning business, 
 
 H 2 
 
100 MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 I easily made my f\itlier understand that I was too young 
 even to dream of it. But I had liardly intimated ray 
 refusal, when a very simple circumstance entirely chan<2;ed 
 my views, and made me forget all my oaths of fidelity to a 
 certain party. 
 
 The success my acting had met with procured me 
 admission to certain salons, where I often spent an agree- 
 able evening ; for acting went on here, too, in the shape of 
 charades. 
 
 One evening, we were requested, as usual, to enliven the 
 visitois by one of our proverbs. I do not remember the 
 word proposed ; I only know I was chosen to fill the part 
 of a bachelor gourmet. I sat down to table, and while 
 indulging in a meal like those usually served up at a 
 theatre, I improvised a warm defence of celibacy. This 
 apology was all the more easy to me, as I needed only to 
 repeat the fine arguments I had employed to my father 
 about his double proposition. Kow, it happened that, 
 among the persons listening to this description of the 
 blessings of celibacy, was a young lady of seventeen, who 
 inclined a serious car to my arguments against marriage. 
 It Avas the first time I had met her ; so I could not ascribe 
 any other reason for her fixed attention than her desire to 
 detect the word. 
 
 A man is always delighted to find an attentive listener, 
 more especially when it is a pretty young girl : hence, I 
 thought it my bounden duty to make some polite remarks 
 to her during the course of the evening. A conversation 
 ensued, and became so interesting, that we had a great 
 deal still to say to each other when the hour came for 
 separation, and 1 believe the regret at parting was not felt 
 by myself alone. 
 
 This simple event was, however, the cause of my mar- 
 riage with Mademoiselle lioudin, and this marriage took 
 mo to Paris. The reader will now understand why my 
 name is liobeit-TIoudin; but I have also to add that this 
 double name, which I at first assumed to distinguish me 
 from my numerous homonymes, eventually became my 
 patronymic, by a decision of the council of state. I may 
 be pardoned for lemarking that this favour, always so 
 
INFANT PRODIGIES. 101 
 
 difficult io obtain, was granted me in consideration of the 
 popularity my long and laborious toil had gained me while 
 using that name. 
 
 My father-in-law, M. Hondin, a celebrated watchmaker, 
 was a native of Blois, and had gone to Paris, as a better 
 field for his talents. He was now engaged in the whole- 
 sale clock trade, while making, with his own hands, astro- 
 nomical clocks, chronometers, and regulators. It was 
 agreed that we should live together, and that I should 
 help him in his business. 
 
 M. Houdin was quite as fond as myself of everything 
 appertaining to mechanism, and was thoroughly versed in 
 the subject. Hence, we had long and interesting conver- 
 sations on the topic, and at the end of one of these I con- 
 fided to him my scheme of setting up a room for the display 
 of mechanical toys and sleight-of-hand tricks. M. Houdin 
 understood me, adopted my plans, and urged me to carry 
 on my studies in the path I had chosen. Proud of the 
 approbation of a man with whose extreme prudence I was 
 acquainted, I gave myself up seriously, during my leisure 
 hours, to my favourite exercises, and began by contriving 
 some instruments for my future cabinet. 
 
 My first care, on arriving at Paris, was to attend a per- 
 formance of Comte's, who had long lorded it in his theatre 
 at the Gallery Choiseul. This celebrated professor was 
 now resting on his laurels, and only performed once a 
 week. The other evenings were devoted to the perform- 
 ances of his young actors, who were perfect prodigies. 
 
 IMany of my readers will remember his bills, with their 
 singular announcement of the principal parts performed by 
 M. Arthur, aged 5 : Mademoiselle Adelina, aged 4J- ; 
 Mademoiselle Victorine, aged 7 ; little Yictor, aged 6. 
 These baby actors attracted the whole of Paris. 
 
 Comte might have left the stage entirely, and contented 
 himself with being manager and dry-nurse to these children 
 of Thalia, for he possessed a very comfortable fortune ; but 
 he made it a point to appear at least once a week, from a 
 double motive : his performances, owing to their rarity, 
 always exercised a beneficial effect on the receipts ; and, 
 on the other hand, by continuing to act he prevented 
 
102 MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOUDIX. 
 
 other professors of conjuring Eetting up in opposition to 
 him ' 
 
 Comte's tricks were all drawn from the same repertory 
 I kne^v by heart; hence they had no great interest for me ; 
 still 1 derived some profit from attending his performances, 
 for I was enabled to study the audience. 
 
 I listened attentively to all said around me, and often 
 heard very judicious remarks. These being generally 
 made by } persons not apparently gifted with great pene- 
 tration, led me to the conclusion that the conjuror ought 
 to distrust plain mother wit ; and I worked out the pioblem 
 to my own satisfaction : " that it is easier to dupe a clever 
 man than an ignorant one." 
 
 This seems to be a paradox ; but I will explain it. 
 
 The ordinary man only sees in conjuring tricks a chal- 
 lenge offered to his intelligence, and hence lepresentations 
 of sleight of hand become to him a combat in which he 
 (determines on conquering. Ever on his guard against 
 the honeyed words by means of which the illusion is 
 produced, he hears nothing, and shuts himself up in this 
 inflexible reasoning : 
 
 "The conjuror," he says, "holds in his hand an object, 
 which he pretends he makes disappear. Well, whatever 
 he may say to distract my attention, my eyes shall not leave 
 his hand, and the trick cannot be done without my finding 
 ont how he manages it." 
 
 It follows that the conjuror, whose artifices are principally 
 directed to the mind, must double his address to delude this 
 obstinate resistance. 
 
 The clever man, on the contrary, when he visits a 
 conjuring performance, only goes to enjoy the illusions, and, 
 far from offering the performer the slightest obstacle, he is 
 the first to aid him. The more ho is deceived the more 
 he is pleased, for that is what he paid for. He knows, 
 too, that these amusing deceptions cannot injure his repu- 
 tation as an intelligent man, and hence he yields to the 
 professor's arguments, follows them through all their 
 developments, and allows himself to be easily put off 
 the right scent. 
 
 Is not my problem proved ? 
 
'. SKILFUL MANAGER. 103 
 
 omte was also an object of interesting study to me, 
 "both as manager and as artist. As manager, Comte 
 could have challenged the most skilful to a comparison, 
 and he was a famous hand at bringing grist to his mill. 
 The little schemes a manager employs to attract the public 
 and increase his receipts are tolerably well known ; but 
 Comte, for a long time, did not require to have recourse 
 to them, as his room was always crowded. At length the 
 day arrived when the benches allowed some elbow room ; 
 then he invented his " family tickets," his " medals," his 
 "reserved boxes for the prize-holders at schools ani col- 
 leges," &c. &c. 
 
 The family tickets gave admission to four persons at half 
 price. Though all Paris was inundated with them, every 
 one into whose hands one of these tickets came believed 
 l3,imself specially favoured by Comte, and none failed to 
 respond to his appeal. What the manager lost in quality he 
 amply regained in quantity. 
 
 But Comte did not stop here ; he also wished that his 
 rose-coloured tickets (the name he gave his family tickets) 
 should bring him a small pecuniary profit, as compensation 
 for reduced prices. He therefore offered each person 
 who presented one of these tickets a copper medal, on which 
 Ms name was engraved, and asked in exchange the sum 
 of one penny. Suppose the ticket-holder declined, he was 
 not admitted, and when matters came to that pass, people 
 always paid. 
 
 It may be said that a penny was a trifle ; but with this 
 trifle Comte paid for his lights ; at least he said so, and he 
 may be believed. 
 
 i)uring the holidays the pink tickets disappeared, and 
 made room for those reserved for the school prize boys, 
 -which were far more productive than the others, for 
 what parents could deny their sons the accei)tance of 
 M. Comte's invitation, when they could promise them- 
 selves the extreme pleasure of seeing their beloved boys in 
 a box exclusively occupied by crowned heads ? The parents, 
 consequently, accompanied their children, and for a gratis 
 ticket the manager netted six or seven fold the value of his 
 graceful liberality. 
 
10 J:. MEMOIRS OF EOBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 I could mention many other ways Corate augmented his 
 receipts by, hut I will only allude to one more. 
 
 If 3'ou arrived a little late, and the length of the queue 
 made you fear the places would he all taken, you had only 
 to enter aj^small, cafe adjoining the theatre, and opening 
 into the liue Ventadour. You paid a trifle more for your 
 cup of coffee or your glass of liqueur, hut you were quite 
 sure that before the public were admitted the waiter would 
 open a secret door, allowing you to reach the paying-place in 
 comfort, and choose your seat. In fact, Comte's cafe was a 
 true box-ofiSce, except that the spectator received some- 
 thing in return for the sum usually charged for reserving 
 seats. 
 
 As artist, Comte possessed the double talent of ventri- 
 loquism and sleight of hand. His tricks were performed 
 skilfully and with a good share of dash, while his per- 
 formances generally pleased, for the ladies were treated 
 most gallantly. My readers may judge for themselves from 
 the following trick, which I believe was his own invention, 
 and which always pleased me when I saw it. 
 
 This experiment was called " The Birth of the Flowers," 
 and it began with a short address in the shape of agreeable^ 
 pleasantry. 
 
 " Ladies," the professor said, " I propose on the present 
 occasion to make twelve of you disappear from the pit,, 
 twenty from the first circle, and seventy-two from the 
 second." 
 
 After the burst of laughter this pleasantry always pro- 
 duced, Comte added : " Eeassure j'^ourselves, gentlemen ; 
 in order not to deprive you of the most graceful ornament 
 of this room, I will not perform this experiment till the end 
 of the evening." This compliment, spoken very modestly^ 
 was always excellently received. 
 
 Comte proceeded to perform the trick in this way : 
 
 After sowing seeds in some earth contained in a small 
 cup, he spread over this earth some burning liquid, and 
 covered it with a bell, which, as he said, was intended to 
 concentrate the heat and stimulate vegetation. In fact, a 
 few seconds later, a bouquet of varied flowers appeared in 
 the cup. Comte distributed them among the ladies who 
 
THE KING OF HEARTS. 105 
 
 graced the boxes, and during this distribution contrived to 
 "plant" the following graceful remarks: "Madam, I 
 keep a pansy (jpensee) for you. — It will be my care, gen- 
 tlemen, that you find no cares (^soucis) here. — Mademoi- 
 selle, here is a rose which you have forced to blush with 
 jealousy." 
 
 Before long the little bouquet was exhausted, but sud- 
 denly the conjuror's hands were liberall}'^ filled with flowers. 
 Then, with an air of triumph, he exclaimed, displaying the 
 flowers which had come as if by enchantment : 
 
 " I promised to metamorj^hose all these ladies : could 
 I choose a form more graceful and pleasing ? In me- 
 tamorphosing you all into roses, I am only offering a copy 
 for the original. Tell me, gentlemen, have I not suc- 
 ceeded ?" 
 
 These gallant words were always greeted by a salvo of 
 aj)plause. 
 
 On another occasion, Comte, while offering a rose and a, 
 pansy to a lady, said : " I find you here, madam, exactly 
 depicted. The rose represents your freshness and beauty ; 
 the pansy your wit and talent." 
 
 He also said, in allusion to the ace of hearts, which 
 he had "passed" on one of the most beautiful women 
 in the room : " Will you be kind enough, madam, to la}^ 
 your hand on your heart ? You have only one heart, I pre- 
 sume? Pardon my indiscreet question; but it was ne- 
 cessary ; for, though you have only one heart, you might 
 possess them all." 
 
 Comte was equally gallant towards sovereigns. 
 
 At the end of a performance he gave at the Tuileries, 
 before Louis XVIII., he invitetl his majesty to select a 
 card from the pack. It may be that chance led the king 
 to draw his majesty of hearts ! it may be, though, that tho 
 conjuror's address produced this result. During this time, 
 a servant placed on an isolated table a vase filled with 
 flowers. 
 
 Comte next took a pistol loaded with powder, in which 
 he inserted the king of hearts as a wad ; then, turning to 
 his august spectator, he begged him to fix his eye on the vase, 
 as the card would appear just over it. The pistol was. 
 
106 MEMOIRS OF rwOBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 fired, and the bust. of Louis XVIII. appeared among the 
 flowers. 
 
 'J'he king, not knowing how to explain this unexpected 
 result, asked Comte the meaning of this strange apparation, 
 adding, in a slightly sarcastic tone, 
 
 " I fancy, sir, that your trick has not ended as you 
 stated." 
 
 " I beg your majesty's pardon," Comte replied, assuming 
 the manner of a courtier ; " I have quite kept my promise. 
 I pledged myself that the king of hearts should appear on 
 that vase, and I appeal to all Frenchmen whether that bust 
 does not represent the king of all hearts ?" 
 
 It may be easily supposed that this trick was heartily 
 applauded by the audience. In ftict, the Royal Journal of 
 the 20th December, 1814, thus describes the end of the per- 
 formance : — 
 
 " The whole audience exclaimed, in reply to M. Comte, 
 ' We recognize him — it is he — the king of all hearts ! the 
 beloved of the French — of the whole universe — Louis 
 XVIII., the august grandson of Henri Quatre !' 
 
 " The king, much affected by these warm acclamations, 
 complimented M. Comte on his skill. 
 
 " ' It would be a pity,' he said to him, * to order such a 
 talented sorcerer to be burnt alive. You have caused us 
 too much pleasure for us to cause you pain. Live many 
 years for yourself in the first place, and then for us.' " 
 
 But though Comte was so amiable to ladies, he was piti- 
 less to gentlemen. It would be a long story were I to 
 describe all the spiteful allusions and mystifications to 
 which his masculine spectators were exposed. For in- 
 stance, there was his ace of hearts' trick, which he ended 
 by producing aces from every part of his victim's body, 
 who knew not what saint to implore in order to stop this 
 avalanche of cards. Then, again, there was the bald-headed 
 gentleman who had politely lent his hat, and received a 
 volley of compliments of the following nature : — 
 
 " This article must belong to you," said Comte, drawing 
 a wig from the hat. " Aha, sir ! it appears you are a family 
 man. Here are socks — then a bib — a chemise — a charming 
 little frock," and, as the public laughed heartily, " on my 
 
f ^VENTRILOQDJSM. 107 
 
 faith, a goody-two-shoes !" he added, producing a pair of 
 shoes. " Nothing is wanting for the dress — not even the 
 stays and their laces. I suppose, sir, you thought you could 
 stay my tongue when you placed that article in your hat." 
 
 Ventriloquism added a great charm to Comte's perform- 
 ances, as it gave rise to numerous little scenes that produced 
 a striking eifect. This faculty too often suggested to him 
 curious mystifications, the best of them (if such a thing can 
 ever be good) being reserved for his travels, when they 
 served as a puff of his performances, and helped to attract 
 crowds. 
 
 At Tours, for instance, he induced the people to break in 
 four doors, in order to rescue an unhappy man supposed to 
 be dying of hunger. At Nevers he renewed the miracle of 
 Balaam's ass, by causing a donkey that was weary of its 
 master's weight to lift up its voice in complaint. One 
 night, too, he caused a profound consternation in a diligence, 
 for a dozen brigands were heard at the doors shouting, 
 " Money, or your life !" The terrified passengers hastened 
 to hand their purses and watches to Comte, who offered to 
 treat with the robbers, and they retired apparently satisfied 
 wdth their spoil. The passengers were glad to have escaped 
 so cheaply, and the next morning, to their still greater satis- 
 faction, the ventriloquist returned them the tribute they 
 had paid to their fears, and explained to them the talent by 
 which they had been duped. 
 
 Another time, at Mficon fair, he saw a countrywoman 
 driving a pig before her, which could hardly move, so laden 
 was it with fat. 
 
 " What's the price of your pig, my good woman r" 
 
 " A hundred francs, my good-looking gentleman, at your 
 service, if you wish to buy." 
 
 " Of course I wish to buy ; but it is a great deal too 
 much : I can off'er you ten crowns," 
 
 "I want one hundred francs, no more and no less : take 
 it or leave it." 
 
 " Stay," Comte said, approaching the animal ; " I am 
 sure your pig is more reasonable than you. Tell me, on 
 your conscience, my fine fellow,, are you worth one hundred 
 francs?" 
 
108 MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOUDIX. 
 
 *' You are a long way out," the pig replied, in a hoai-se 
 and liollow voice ; " I'm not worth one hundicd pence. I 
 am meazled, and my mistress is trying to take you in." 
 
 The crowd that had assembled round the woman and pig 
 fell back in terror, fancying them both bewitched, while 
 Comte returned to his hotel, where the story was told him 
 with sundry additions, and he learned that some courageous 
 persons had gone up to the woman, begged her to be ex- 
 orcised, and thus drive the unclean spirit out of the pig. 
 
 Still, Comte did not always escape so easilj^ ; and he al- 
 most paid dearly for a trick he played on some peasants at 
 Fribou7g, in Switzerland. These fanatics took him for a 
 real sorcerer, and attacked him with sticks ; and they were 
 even going to throw him into a lime-kiln, had not Comte 
 escaped by causing a terrible voice to issue from the kiln, 
 which routed them. 
 
 I will end my account of these amusing adventures with 
 a little anecdote, in which Comte and myself were in turn 
 mystifier and mystified. 
 
 The celebrated ventriloquist j)aid me a visit at the Palais 
 Royal, and I accompanied him to the foot of the stairs on 
 his departure. Comte walked down before me, still talking, 
 so that the pockets of his coat were at my mercy. The 
 opportunity was too good to neglect the chance of playing 
 a trick on my talented coi}frere, so I filched his handker- 
 chief and a handsome gold snuff-box : and I took care to 
 turn the pocket inside out, as a proof that my performance 
 had been properly executed. 
 
 I was laughing at the comic result my trick must have 
 when I returned Comte his property ; but it was " diamond 
 cut diamond :" for, while 1 was thus violating the laws of 
 hospitality, Comte was scheming against me. I had scarce 
 concealed the handkerchief and box, when I heard a strange 
 voice on the first floor landing. 
 
 " Monsieur Eobcrt-Houdin, will you be kind enough to 
 step up to the box-office : I wish to speak to you." 
 
 My readers will guess that the ventriloquist had played 
 me a trick ; indeed, on reaching the office, I only found the 
 clerk, who could not understand what 1 was talking about. 
 I j)erceived, too late, that I was victimised, and I heard 
 
DIAMOND CUT DIAMOND. 109 
 
 Comte celebrating liis victoiy by sliouts of laughter. For 
 a moment, I confess I felt vexed at having been taken in, 
 but I soon regained my equanimity on thinking I might 
 liave tlie best of it yet. So I went down stairs very calmly. 
 
 " AVhat did that person want?" Comte asked, with ill- 
 repressed delight. 
 
 " Can't you guess ?" 
 
 " I ?— no." 
 
 "It was a penitent thief, who begged me to return you 
 the articles he had filched from you. Here the}^ are, my 
 master !" 
 
 " I prefer it to end so !" Comte said, returning his pocket 
 to its place. " We are now quits, and I hope we shall al- 
 wa^^s be good friends." 
 
 From all the preceding remarks it may be concluded that 
 the fundamental principles of Comte's performances were 
 mystifying gentlemen (sovereigns excepted), compliment- 
 ing ladies, and jesting with everybody. Comte was right 
 in employing these means, as he generally gained his ob- 
 ject ; for he delighted and raised a laugh. At this period 
 French manners justified such behaviour, and the professor, 
 by flattering the taste and instincts of the public, was sure 
 to please. 
 
 There has been a great change since, and puns are no 
 longer held in such esteem : banished from good society, 
 they have sought refuge in studios, where the pupils too 
 often make an immoderate use of them, and though they 
 may be permitted now and then among intimate friends, 
 they are not proper in a performance of sleight of hand. 
 The reason is very simple : not only do puns raise a belief 
 that the artist fancies himself a wit, which may be injurious 
 to him ; but, if he succeed in raising a laugh, it weakens 
 the interest felt in his experiments. 
 
 It is a recognized fact that, in those performances where 
 imagination plays the chief part, " astonishment is a hun- 
 dred-fold better than a silly laugh ;" for, though the mind 
 may remember what has delighted it, laughter leaves no 
 trace on the memory. 
 
 Symbolical or complimentary^ language is also completely 
 out of fashion, at least the age does not err in excess of gal- 
 
110 MEMOIRS OF ROBKRT-HOUDIX. 
 
 lantiy, and " musky " compliments would bo badly received 
 in public. I have alwaj's thought, too, that ladies visit a 
 performance like mine in order to refresh their minds, and 
 not to be put in evidence themselves. They possibly prefer 
 to remain simple lookers-on rather than expose themselves 
 to florid compliments. 
 
 As for mystification, a more powerful pen than mine must 
 undertake its apology. 
 
 In saying this, I have no wish to cast censure on Comte. 
 I am writing at this moment in accordance with the spirit 
 of my age ; Comte acted in accordance with his : we iDoth 
 succeeded, though differing in our treatment, and this only 
 proves that "all styles are good except that which is 
 wearisome." 
 
 These perfonnances of Comto's, however, inflamed my 
 imagination ; I only dreamed of theatres, conjuring, me- 
 chanism, automata, &c. ; I was impatient to take my place 
 among the adepts of magic, and make myself a name in the 
 marvellous art. The time I required in forming a deter- 
 mination seemed to me so much stolen from my future 
 success. My success ! I did not know what trials I should 
 undergo ere I merited it. I had no suspicion of the toil, 
 the care, and trouble which I should have to pay for it. 
 
 Still, I resolved on continuing my studies of automata 
 and instruments suited to produce magical illusions. 
 Though I had seen many of them while with Torrini, I 
 had many more to learn, for the stock of conjuiing tricks 
 in those days was enormous. Fortunately I found an 
 opportunity of materially abridging my studies. 
 
 I had noticed, while passing along the Rue Richelieu, a 
 modest little shop, in front of which conjuring apparatus 
 was exposed for sale. This was a piece of good luck, so I 
 bought some of the things, and while paying repeated visits 
 to the master of the shop, under pretext of asking inform- 
 ation, I got into his good graces, and he grew to look on 
 me as a friend. 
 
 Father Roujol (such was his name) was perfectly ac- 
 quainted wdth his trad6, and he held the confidence of 
 eveiy conjuror of note ; hence, he could give me much 
 valuable information, so I became more polite than ever. 
 
THE FIRST PRESTIDIGITATOK. Ill 
 
 and the worthy man soon initiated me into all his mysteries. 
 But my repeated visits to the shop had another object as 
 well, for I wished to meet some of the masters of the art 
 who could increase my knowledge. 
 
 Unfortunately, my old friend's shop was not so visited as 
 before. The revolution of 1830 had turned persons' ideas 
 to more serious matters than " physical amusements," and 
 the greater number of conjurors had wandered into strange 
 countries. Old Eoujol's good times had, therefore, passed 
 away, which rendered him very gloomy. 
 
 " Things are not as they used to be," he would s-dj, 
 " and it might really be fancied the jugglers had juggled 
 themselves away, for I don't see a single one. \\ ill the 
 
 time ever return," he added, when the Due de M did 
 
 not disdain to visit my humble shop, and remain here for 
 hours talking to me and my numerous visitors ? Ah, that 
 was a time ! when all the first conjurors and amateurs 
 formed. a brilliant club here; for each of these masters, 
 desirous of proving his superiority over the others, showed 
 his best tricks and his utmost skill." 
 
 I felt the old gentleman's regret equally with himself, for 
 I should have revelled in such society, as I would have 
 walked any time twenty leagues for the sake of talking with 
 a professor. Still, I had the luck to form here the acquaint- 
 ance of Jules de Eovere, the first to employ a title now 
 generally given to fashionable conjurors. Being of noble 
 birth, he desired a title in accordance with it ; but, as he 
 had rejected with disdain the vulgar name of escamoteur, and 
 as, too, that ofphysicien was frequently used by his rivals, he 
 was compelled to create a title for himself. 
 
 One day the pompous title of " Prkstidigitateuk " wa« 
 visible on an enormous poster, which also condescended to 
 supply the derivation of this breath-stopping word, presto 
 digiti (activity of the fingers). Then came the details of the 
 performance, intermingled with Latin quotations, w^hich 
 must attract the attention of the public by evidencing tlio 
 learning of the conjuror — I beg pardon, prestidigitator. 
 
 This word, as well as prestidigitation, due to the same 
 author, were soon seized upon by Jules de Eovere's rivals, 
 who liked a good mouthful too. The Academy itself fol- 
 
112 MEMOIRS OF KOBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 lowed tliis example by sanctioning the formation of the 
 word, and thus handing it down to i)Ostcrity. I am bound 
 to add though, that this word, originally so pompous, is no 
 longer a distinction, for, as the most humble jugglers were 
 at liberty to appreciate it, it follows that conjuring and 
 prestidigitation have become synonymous. The conjuroj- 
 who requires a title should seek it in his own merit, and 
 recognize the sound truth, that *' it is better for a man to 
 honour his profession than to be honoured by it." For my 
 own part, I never made any distinction between the two 
 names, and shall employ them indiscriminately, until some 
 new Jules de.Eovere arrive to enrich the Dictionary of the 
 French Academy. 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 Celebrated Axitomata — A Brazen Fly — The Artificial Man— Albertus 
 Magnus and St. Thomas d'Aquinas— Vaucanson— His Duck— His 
 Flute-Player — Curious Details — The Automaton Chess-Player — In- 
 teresting* Episode— Catherine II. and M. de Kempelen— I repair the 
 Componium — Unexpected Success. 
 
 Owing to my persevering researches I had nothing left to 
 learn in conjuring ; but, in order to carry out my scheme, I 
 had to study the principles of a science on which I greatly 
 depended for the success of my future pei-formances. I 
 allude to the science, or rather art, of making automata. 
 
 While occupied with this idea I made active investiga- 
 tions ; I applied to the public libraries and their keepers, 
 whom my tenacious importunity drove into despair. But 
 all the information I collected only brought me descriptions 
 of mechanical toys, far less ingenious than certain play- 
 things of the present day, or absurd statements of chefs- 
 <Voouvre published in the dark ages. My readers may judge 
 from the following : — 
 
 I found, in a work bearing the title " Apologie pour 
 les Grands Homines Accuses de Magie," that " Jean de 
 Mont-royal presented to the Emperor Charles V. an iron 
 fly, which made a solemn circuit round its inventor's head, 
 
A BRAZEN FLY. 113 
 
 and then reposed from its fatigue on his arm." Such a fly 
 is rather extraordinary, yet I have something better to tell 
 my readers — still about a fly. 
 
 Gervais, Chancellor to the Emperor Otho III., in his 
 book entitled " Otia Imperatoris," informs us that " the 
 sage Virgilius, Bishop of Naples, made a brass fly, which 
 he placed on one of the city gates, and that this mecha- 
 nical fly, trained like a shej)herd's dog, prevented any other 
 fly entering Kaples ; so much so, that during eight years 
 the meat exposed for sale in the market was never once 
 tainted." 
 
 How much should we regret that this marvellous auto- 
 maton has not survived to our day ! How the butchers, and 
 still more their customers, would thank the learned bishop ! 
 Pass we to another marvel : 
 
 Francis Picus relates that " Eoger Bacon, aided by 
 Thomas Bungay, his brother in religion, after having ren- 
 dered their bodies equal and tempered by chemistry, em- 
 23loyed the Speculum Amuchesi to construct a brazen head, 
 which should tell them if there were any mode of enclosing 
 the whole of England by a high wall. They forged at it 
 for seven years without relaxation, but misfortune willed 
 it that when the head spoke the two monks did not hear it, 
 as they were engaged on something else." 
 
 I have asked myself a hundred times how the two in- 
 trepid blacksmiths knew the head had spoken, when they 
 were not present to hear it. I never discovered aiij other 
 solution than this ; it was, doubtlessly, because their hodies 
 were equalized and tempered hy chemistry. 
 
 But hero is a far more astounding marvel. 
 
 Tostat, in his " Commentaries sur I'Enode," states that 
 " Albertus Magnus, Provincial of the Dominicans at 
 Cologne, constituted a brass man, which he worked at 
 continually for thirty years. This work was performed 
 under various constellations, and according to the laws of perspec- 
 tive." 
 
 When the sun was in the sign of the Zodiac, the eyes of 
 this automaton melted metals on which the characters of 
 the same sign were traced. This intelligent machine was 
 equally gifted with motion and speech, and it revealed to 
 
114 MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 Albertus Magnus some of his most important secrets.* 
 Unfortunately, St. Thomas Aquinas, Albertus's pupil, taking 
 this statue for the handiwork of the devil, smashed it with 
 a big stick. 
 
 As a finale to these fables, which are well fitted to figure 
 among the marvels performed by I'errault's fairies, I will 
 quote from page 252 of the " Journal des Savants " for 
 1677 : " The artificial man of Eeysolius, a statue so re- 
 sembling the human fonn, that, with the exception of the 
 operations of the soul, everything that takes place in the 
 body may be witnessed." 
 
 What a pity the mechanician stopped so soon ! for it 
 would have cost him so little, while making so exquisite a 
 i-esemblance to the fairest work of the Creator, to add to 
 his automaton a soul moving by clockwork ! 
 
 This quotation does much honour to the savants who 
 accepted the responsibility of such a statement, and is a 
 further proof how history is written. 
 
 It may be easily supposed these works furnished me no 
 guide to the art I so much wished to study ; and although 
 I continued my inquiries, I only attained the unsatisfactory 
 lesult that nothing serious had been written on the subject 
 of automata. 
 
 " Wliat!" I said to myself, " can it be possible that the 
 mai-vellous science which raised Yaucanson's name so high 
 — the science whose ingenious combinations can animate 
 inert matter, and impart to it a species of existence — is the 
 only one without its archives ?" 
 
 When about to give up the subject in despair, I stumbled 
 on a memoir of the inventor of the " Automaton Duck." 
 This memoir, bearing date 1788, is addressed by the author 
 to the members of the Academy of Sciences. In it will be 
 found a learned description of his flute-player, as well as a 
 report of the Academy, which I here transcribe. 
 
 Extract from the Registers of the Royal Academy of Sciences for 
 April 30, 1738 :— 
 " The Academy, after hearing M. de Yaucanson's memoir 
 
 * *' Les Secrets du Grand Albert," a work crammed with absurdities, 
 anri falsely attributed to Albertus Magnus. 
 
VAuc Anson's duck. 115 
 
 read, coutaining a description of a wooden statue, copied 
 from Coysvoix's marble fawn, which pla.ys twelve difierent 
 airs on a German flute with a precision deserving of public 
 attention, was of opinion that this machine was extremely 
 ingenious; that the inventor had employed novel and 
 simple means both to give the fingers the necessary motion 
 and to modify the wind entering the flute, by augmenting 
 or diminishing its velocity, according to the various tones ; 
 by varying the arrangement of the lips, and setting a valve 
 in motion to perform the functions of the tongue ; lastly, 
 by artificially imitating all that a man is obliged to do ; 
 and that, in addition, M. de Yaucanson's memoir possessed 
 all the clearness and perception such matter is capable of, 
 proving the intelligence of the author, and his great know- 
 ledge of the different branches of mechanism. In confirma- 
 tion of which I have signed the present certificate. 
 
 " FONTENELLE, 
 
 " Perpetual Secretary, Eoyal Academy of Sciences. 
 *' Paris, May 3, 1738." 
 
 After this report comes a letter of Vaucanson's, addressed 
 to the Abbe D. F., in which he informs him of his inten- 
 tion of presenting to the public on Easter Monday — 
 
 1. A player of the German flute. 
 
 2. A player of the tambourine. 
 
 3. An artificial duck. 
 
 " In this duck," the celebrated automatist writes, " will 
 be noticed the mechanism of the viscera, intended to per- 
 form the functions of eating, drinking, and digesting. The 
 action of all the parts is exactly imitated. The bird puts 
 out its head to take up the seed, swallows it, digests it, and 
 evacuates it by the ordinary channels. 
 
 " All thoughtful persons will understand the difficulty 
 of making my automaton perform so many different move- 
 ments, as when it stands on its legs, and moves its head to 
 the right and left. They will also see that this animal 
 diinks, dabbles with its bill, quacks like a living duck, 
 and, in short, is precisely similar in everj^ respect." 
 
 I 2 
 
116 MEMOIRS OF EOBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 I was the more surprised at the contents of the memoir, 
 as it was the first trustworthy information I had gained 
 about automata. The description of the flute-phiyer gav& 
 me a high opinion of the inventor's talent; but I much 
 regretted finding so short an account of the mechanical 
 combinations of the duck. 
 
 For a time I contented myself with admiring and be- 
 lieving in the great master's work, but in 1844, Vaucanson's 
 duck was exhibited in a room at the I'alais Koyal.* Of 
 course I was one of the first to visit it, and was much 
 stinick by its skilful and learned formation. Some tim& 
 after, one of the wings having been injured, the duck was 
 sent me to repair, and I was initiated into the famous- 
 mystery of digestion. To my great surprise, I found that 
 the illustrious master had not disdained to have recourso^ 
 to a trick which a conjuror would have been proud of. Th& 
 digestion, so pompously announced in the memoir, was only 
 a mystification — a real canard, in fact. Decidedly, Vau- 
 canson was not only my master in mechanism, but I must 
 bow before his genius for juggling. 
 
 The trick was as simple as it was interesting. A vase,, 
 containing seed steeped in water, was placed before tho 
 bird. The motion of the bill in dabbling crushed the foody 
 and facilitated its introduction into a pipe placed beneath 
 the lower bill. The water and seed thus swallowetl fell 
 into a box placed under the bird's stomach, which was 
 emptied every three or four days. The other part of the- 
 operation was thus eflected : Bread-crumb, coloured green, 
 vras expelled by a forcing-pump, and carefully caught on a 
 silver salver as the result of artificial digestion. This. 
 was handed round to be admired, while the ingenious trick- 
 ster laughed in his sleeve at the credulity of the public. 
 But, before leaving this subject, I must give a short biogra- 
 jihical notice of this illustrious man. 
 
 Jacques de Vaucanson was born at Grenoble on the 24th 
 February, 1709, of a noble family, and his taste for me- 
 
 * After Vaucanson's death, his worlcs were dispersed and lost, ^vith 
 the exception of the dnck, which, after reniahiiug for a lon<? time in a 
 jjarret at Berlin, saw lij^lit again in 1840, and was purchased by a M. 
 George Tiets, who spent four years in repairing it. 
 
vaucanson's automata. 117 
 
 clianism was developed at an qslyIj age. In 1730, the flute- 
 player at the Tuileries suggested to him the idea of con- 
 structing on this model an automaton which should really 
 play the flute, and he spent four years in perfecting it. 
 The story runs that Vaucanson's valet was the only person 
 acquainted with his secret, and at the first notes produced 
 by the flute-player, the faithful servant fell at his master's 
 feet, as if he were more than mortal, and they embraced 
 with tears of joy. 
 
 The duck and tambourine-player soon followed, and were 
 chiefly intended to speculate on public curiosity. Though 
 noble by birth, Vaucanson exhibited his automata at the 
 fair of Saint Germain and at Paris, where his receipts were 
 enormous. He is also said to have invented a loom on 
 which a donkey worked cloth ; this he made in revenge 
 upon the silk-weavers of Lyons, who had stoned him be- 
 cause he attempted to simplify the ordinary loom. AA'e 
 also owe to Yaucanson a chain that still bears his name, 
 and a machine to make meshes of equal size. 
 
 It is also said he invented for the performance of Mar- 
 montel's Cleopatra an asp which fastened itself with a hiss 
 on the bosom of the actress who played the principal cha- 
 racter. On the first performance of the tragedy, a jester^ 
 more struck by the hissing of the automaton than by the 
 beauty of the tragedy, exclaimed " I am of the asp's 
 opinion !" 
 
 This illustrious mechanician retained all his activity to 
 the last moment of his life. While dangerously ill, he 
 devoted himself to his machine for making his endless 
 chain. 
 
 " Do not lose a minute," he said to his workmen ; "I fear 
 I may not live long enough to explainmy idea thoroughly." 
 
 Eight days later, on the 21st of Kovember, 1782, he 
 died, at the age of seventy-three : but before leaving this 
 world, he had the consolation of seeing his machine at 
 work. 
 
 One piece of good luck never arrives without another : 
 thus, in 1844, I also saw at the house of a mechanician of 
 the name of Cronier, at Belleville, the famous Chess-player, 
 who defeated the whole chess world. I never saw it at 
 
118 MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 work, but since then I have received some information 
 about the automaton of a certain degree of interest, and I 
 trust my readers will feel the same surprise as I did when 
 I heard it. 
 
 My stoiy commences in Russia; the first division of 
 Poland in 1792 had produced a certain fermentation, the 
 efifects of which were felt some years later. In 1796, a 
 revolt broke out in a half- Russian, half-Polish regiment 
 stationed at Riga, at the head of the rebels being an officer 
 of the name of Worousky, a man of great talent and energy. 
 He was of short stature, but well built ; and he exercised 
 such influence, that the troops sent to suppress the revolt 
 were beaten back with considerable loss. However, rein- 
 forcements came from St. Petersburg, and the insurgents- 
 were defeated in a pitched battle. x\ great number pe- 
 rished, and the rest took to flight across the marslies, 
 where the soldiers pursued them, with orders to grant no 
 quarter. 
 
 In this rout Worousky had both thighs shattered by 
 a cannon-ball, and fell on the battle-field ; however, he 
 escaped from the general massacre by throwing himself into 
 a ditch behind a hedge. At nightfall, Worousky dragged 
 himself along with great difficulty to the adjacent house of 
 a phj^sician of the name of Osloff, whose benevolence was 
 well known, and the doctor, moved by his sufferings, at- 
 tended upon, and promised to conceal him. His wound 
 was serious, but the doctor felt confident of curing him, 
 until gangrene set in, and his life could only be saved at 
 the cost of half his body. The amputation was successful, 
 and Worousky saved. 
 
 During this time, M. de Kempelen, a celebrated Viennese 
 mechanician, came to Russia to pay a visit to M. Osloff, 
 with whom he had been long acquainted. He was travel- 
 ling about to learn foreign languages, the study of which 
 he afterwards displayed in his splendid work on the 
 "Mechanism of Words," published at Vienna in 1791. 
 M. de Kempelen stopped a short time in every country 
 the language of which he desired to learn, and his apti- 
 tude was so great that he acquired it very speedil3\ 
 
 This visit was the more agreeable to the doctor, as for 
 
AUTOMATON CHESS-PLAYER. 119 
 
 some time he had been alarmed as to the consequences of 
 the noble action he had performed ; he feared being com- 
 promised if it were found out, and his embarrassment was 
 extreme, for, living alone with an old housekeeper, he had 
 no one to consult or to help him. Hence, he told M. do 
 Kempelen his secret, and begged his aid. Though at first 
 startled by sharing such a secret — for he knew that a 
 reward was offered for the insurgent chief, and that the 
 act of humanity he was about to help in might send him to 
 Siberia — still, M. de Kempelen, on seeing Worousky's 
 mutilated body, felt moved with compassion, and began 
 contriving some plan to secure his escape. 
 
 Dr. Osloff' was a passionate lover of chess, and had 
 played numerous games with his patient during his tardy 
 convalescence ; but Worousky was so strong at the game 
 that the doctor was always defeated. Then Kempelen 
 joined the doctor in trying to defeat the skilful player, 
 but it was of no use ; Worousky was always the con- 
 queror. His superiority gave M. de Kempelen the idea 
 of the famous Automaton Chess -pla^-^er. In an instant 
 his plan Avas formed, and he set to work immediatel3^ 
 The most remarkable circumstance is, that this wondeiful 
 chef-d'oeuvre, which astonished the whole world, was 
 invented and finished within three months. 
 
 M. de Kempelen was anxious his host should make the 
 first essay of his automaton ; so, he invited him to play a 
 game on the 10th of October, 1796. The automaton 
 represented a Turk of the natural size, wearing the na- 
 tional costume, and seated behind a box of the shape 
 of a chest of drawers. In the middle of the top of the 
 box was a chess-board. 
 
 Prior to commencing the game, the artist opened several 
 doors in the chest, and M. Osloif could see inside a large 
 number of wheels, pulleys, cylinders, springs, &c., occupy- 
 ing the larger part. At the same time, he opened a long 
 drawer, from which he produced the chessmen and a 
 cushion, on which the Turk was to rest his arm. This 
 examination ended, the robe of the automaton was raised, 
 and the interior of the body could also be inspected. 
 
 The doors being then closed, M. de Kempelen wound up 
 
120 MKMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 one of the wheels Avith a hey he inserted in a hole in tho 
 chest; after which, the Turk, with a gentle nod of saluta- 
 tion, placed his hand on one of the pieces, raised it, de- 
 posited it on another square, and laid his aim on tlu' 
 cushion before him. The inventor had stated that, as 
 the automaton could not speak, it would signify check 
 to the king by three nods, and to the queen by two. 
 
 The doctor moved in his turn, and waited patiently till 
 his adversary, whose movements had all the dignity of the 
 Sultan he represented, had moved. The game, though 
 slow at first, soon grew animated, and the doctor found 
 he had to deal with a tremendous opponent; for, in s])it< 
 of all his ettbrts to defeat the figure, his game was growing 
 quite desperate. It is true, though, that for some minutes 
 past, the doctor's attention liad appeared to be distracted, 
 and one idea seemed to occupy him. But while hesitating 
 whether he should impart his thoughts to his friend, the 
 figure gave three nods. The game A\'as over. 
 
 " By Jove!" the loser said, with a tinge of vexation, 
 which the sight of the inventor's smiling face soon dis- 
 pelled. " if 1 were not certain Worousky is at this moment 
 in bed, I should believe 1 had been playing with him. His 
 head alone is capable of inventing such a checkmate. And 
 besides," the doctor said, looking fixedly at M. de Kempelen, 
 *' can you tell me why your automaton plays with the left 
 hand, just like Worousky ?"* 
 
 The mechanician began laughing, and not wishing to 
 prolong this mystification, the prelude to so many others, 
 he confessed to his friend that he had really been playing 
 with Worousky. 
 
 "But where the deuce have you put him, then?" 
 the doctor said, looking round to try and discover his 
 opponent. 
 
 The inventor laughed heartily. 
 
 " Well ! do you not recognize me.^" the Turk exclaimed, 
 holding out his left hand to the doctor in reconciliation, 
 while Kempelen raised the robe, and displayed the poor 
 cripple stowed away in the body of the automaton. 
 
 * Tlic automaton chess-player always used the left hand— a defect 
 falselv attributed to the carelessness of the constractor. 
 
AUTOMATOJf CHESS-rLAYER. 121 
 
 M. OslofF conld no longer keep his countenance, and he 
 joined the others in their laughter. But he was the first to 
 stop, for he wanted an explanation, 
 
 " But how do you manage to render Worousky in- 
 visible ?" 
 
 M. de Kempelen then explained how he concealed the 
 living aTitomaton before it entered the Turk's body. 
 
 " See here!" he said, opening the chest, "these wheels, 
 pulleys, and cranks occupying a portion of the chest, are 
 only a deception. The frames that support them are hung 
 on hinges, and can be turned back to leave space for the 
 player while you were examining the body of the au- 
 tomaton. 
 
 " When this inspection was ended, and as soon as the 
 robe was allowed to fall, Worousky entered the Turk's body 
 we have just examined, and, while I was showing you the 
 box and the machinery, he was taking his time to pass his 
 arms and hands into those of the figure. You can under- 
 stand that, owing to the size of the neck, which is hidden 
 by the broad and enormous collar, he can easily pass his 
 head into this mask, and see the chess-board. I must add, 
 that when I pretend to wind up tlie machine, it is only to 
 drown the sound of Worousky's moA^ements." 
 
 " Very good, then," the doctor replied, to show he per- 
 fectly understood the plan ; " while I was examining the 
 chest, my confounded AVorousky was in the Turk's body, 
 and when the robe was lifted, he had passed into the chest. 
 I frankly allow," M. Osloff added, "that I was done by this 
 ingenious arrangement ; but I console myself with the idea 
 that cleverer persons than I will be deceived." 
 
 The three friends Avere the more delighted by the result 
 of this private rehearsal, as this instrument furnished an 
 excellent means of escape for the poor prisoner, and at the 
 same time assured him a livelihood. The same evening the 
 road by which the frontier should be reached was agreed 
 on, as well as the precautions to be taken during the journey. 
 It was also arranged that, in order to arouse no suspicions, 
 performances should be given in all the towns they passed 
 through, beginning with Toula, Kalonga, Smolensk, <fec. 
 
 A month later, Worousk}", now entirely recovered, gave 
 
122 MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOUDIX. 
 
 a first specimen of his mai^velloiis skill to a numerous 
 awdience at Toula. I possess a copy of the original bill» 
 which was given me by M. Hessler, nephew of Dr. Osloff, 
 who also supplied me with all these details. Worousky 
 won every game he played at Toula, and the papei-s were 
 full of praises of the automaton. Assured of success by the 
 brilliancy of their dcibut, M. do Kempelen and his com- 
 panion proceeded towards the frontier. 
 
 It was necessary that Worousky should be concealed 
 from sight somewhere even when travelling; hence ho 
 was literally packed up. The enormous chest in which 
 the automaton was conveyed only travelled very slowly, 
 apparently through fear of breaking the machinery, but in 
 reality to protect the skilful chess-player who was shut up 
 in it, while air-holes were made in tlie side of this singular 
 post-chaise to enable Worousky to breathe. 
 
 The poor cripple endured all this inconvenience calmly, 
 in the hope of soon being out of reach of the Muscovite 
 police, and arriving safe and sound at the end of this 
 painful jouniey. The fatigue, it must be granted, was 
 considerably alleviated by the enormous receipts they 
 netted by the exhibition. 
 
 Our travellers had arrived at Vitebsk, on the road to iho 
 Prussian frontier, when one morning Kempelen rushed into 
 the room where Worousky was concealed. 
 
 " A frightful misfortune hangs over us," the mechanician 
 said, in a terrible state of alarm, and showing a letter dated 
 St. Petersburg. " Heaven knows how wo shall escape it ! 
 The Empress Catherine, having heard through the papers 
 of the automaton's wonderful talent, desires to play a game 
 with it, and requests me to bring it straight to the imperial 
 palace. We must hit on some plan to evade this dangerous 
 honour:" 
 
 To Kempelen's extreme surprise, Worousky heard this 
 great news very calmly, and even seemed to be pleased 
 at it. 
 
 " E<efuse such a visit ! — by no means : the wishes of the 
 Czarina are orders which cannot be infringed without 
 peril ; we must, therefore, obey her as quickly as possible. 
 Your zeal will have the double effect of gaining her favour, 
 
CATHERINE THE SECOXD. 123 
 
 and removing any suspicions that might arise about yonr 
 automaton. Besides," the bold soldier added, with a degree 
 of pride, " I confess I should like to find myself face to face 
 with the great Catherine, and show her that the head on 
 which she set the price of a few roubles is, under certain 
 circumstances, as good as her own." 
 
 " Madman that you are!" M. de Kempelen exclaimed, 
 startled by the excitement of the impetuous insurgent. 
 " Eemember, that we may be discovered, and you will 
 lose your life, while I shall be sent to Siberia." 
 
 " Impossible !" Worousky quietly replied ; " your in- 
 genious machine has already deceived so many skilful 
 persons, that I am convinced we shall soon have one dupe 
 more. Besides, what a glorious reminiscence, what an 
 honour it will be to us, if we can say some day that the 
 Empress Catherine II., the haughty Czarina, whom her 
 courtiers proclaim the most intellectual person in her 
 vast empire, was deceived by your genius, and conquered 
 by me !" * 
 
 Kempelen, though not sharing Worousky \s enthusiasm, 
 was obliged to yield. Hence, they set off without further 
 argument ; the journey was very long and fatiguing, but 
 Kempelen did not quit his companion for a moment, and 
 did all in his power to ameliorate his position. At length 
 they reached their journey's end, but though they had 
 travelled as fast as they could, Catherine, on receiving 
 Kempelen, appeared rather angry. 
 
 " My roads must be very bad, sir, if you require fifteen 
 days to travel from Vitebsk to St. Petersburg." 
 
 " Will your majesty," the crafty mechanician replied, 
 " allow me to make a confession which will serve as my 
 excuse ?" 
 
 " Do so," Catherine replied, "provided it be noi a con- 
 fession of the incapacity of j'our marvellous machine." 
 
 " On the contrary, I would confess that, being aware 
 of your majesty's skill at chess, I desired to ofi'er you a 
 worthy opponent. Hence, before starting, I made ^ome 
 additions which were indispensable for so important a 
 game." 
 
 " Ah!" the empress said, with a smile, smoothed down 
 
124 MEMOIRS OF EOBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 by iliis flattering explanation. " And you fancy these 
 new urrangcments will enable your automaton to beat 
 me?" 
 
 *' I should be much surprised were it otherwise." 
 
 " Well, we shall see, sir," the empress continued, nod- 
 ding her head ironically. " But," she added, in the same 
 tone, " when will you bring my terrible opponent before 
 me?" 
 
 " Whenever your majesty may please." 
 
 " If that is the case, I am so impatient to measure my 
 strength with the conqueror of the most skilful players in 
 my countiy, that I will receive him this very evening in 
 my library. Put up your machine there, and at eight 
 o'clock I will join you. Be punctual !" 
 
 Kempelen took leave of Catherine, and hastened to make 
 his preparations for the evening. W^orousky was delighted 
 at the prospect of amusing the empress; but, although 
 Kempelen was resolved to risk the adventure, he wished 
 to take all possible precautions, so that he might have a 
 way of escape in case of danger. Hence, he had the 
 automaton carried to the palace in the same chest in which 
 it travelled. 
 
 When eight o'clock struck, the empress, accompanied by 
 a numerous suite, entered the library, and took her place 
 at the chess-board. 
 
 I have forgotten to say that Kempelen never allowed 
 any one to pass behind the automaton, and would not con- 
 sent to begin the game till all the spectators were in front 
 of the board. 
 
 The pourt took their places behind the empress, unani- 
 mously predicting the defeat of the automaton. The chest 
 and the Turk's body were then examined, and when all 
 were perfectly convinced they contained nothing but the 
 clockwork I have already mentioned, the game began. It 
 proceeded for some time in perfect silence, but Catheiine's 
 frowning brow speedily revealed that the automaton was 
 not very gallant towards her, and fully deserved the 
 reputation it had gained. The skilful Mussulman captured 
 a bishop and a knight, and the game was turning much to 
 the disadvantage of the lady, when the Turk, suddenly 
 
CATHERINE AND M. DE KEMPELEN. 125 
 
 forgetting his dignified gravity, gave a violent blow on his 
 ciTshion, and pushed back a piece his adversary had just 
 moved. 
 
 Catherine II. had attempted to cheat ; perhaps to try 
 the skill of the automaton, or for some other reason. At 
 any rate, the haughty empress, unwilling to confess her 
 weakness, replaced the piece on the same square, and 
 regarded the automaton with an air of imperious authority. 
 The result was most unexpected — the Turk upset all the 
 j)ieces with a blow of his hand, and immediately the clock- 
 work, which had been heard during the whole game, 
 stopped. It seemed as if the machinery had got out of 
 repair. Pale and trembling, M. de Kempelen, recognizing 
 in this Worousky's impetuous temper, awaited the issue of 
 this conflict between the insurgent and his sovereign. 
 
 " iK-h, ah ! my good automaton ! your manners aie rather 
 rough," the empress said, good humouredly, not sorry to 
 see a game she had small chance of winning end thus. 
 *' Oh ! you are a famous player, I grant ; but you were 
 afraid of losing the game, and so prudently upset the 
 pieces. Well 1 am now quite convinced of your skill and 
 your violent character." 
 
 M. de Kempelen began to breathe again, and regaining 
 courage, tried to remove the unfavourable impression 
 which the little respect shown by the automaton must 
 have produced. Hence he said, humbly, 
 
 " Will your majesty allow me to offer an explanation of 
 what has just happened ?" 
 
 " By no means, M. de Kempelen," Catherine said, 
 heartily — " by no means ; on the contrary, I find it most 
 amusing, and your automaton pleases me so much that I 
 wish to purchase it. I shall thus always have near me a 
 player, somewhat quick perhaps, but yet able to hold his 
 own. You can leave it here to-night, and come to me 
 to-morrow morning to arrange the price." 
 
 There is strong reason to believe that Catherine wished 
 to commit an indiscretion when she evinced a desire that 
 the figure should remain at the palace till the next morn- 
 ing. Fortunately, the skilful mechanician managed to 
 baffle her feminine curiosity by carrying Worousky off in 
 
126 MEMOIRS OF KOBERT-HOUDIX. 
 
 the big chest. The automaton remained in the library, but 
 the player was no longer there. 
 
 The next day Catherine renewed her proposition to 
 purchase the chess-player, but Kempelen made her under- 
 stand that, as the figure could not perform without him, 
 he could not possibly sell it. The empress allowed the 
 justice of these arguments; and, while complimenting 
 the mechanician on his invention, made him a handsome 
 present. 
 
 Three months after, the automaton was in England, 
 under the management of Mr. Anthon, to whom Kempelen 
 had sold it. I know not if Worousky was still attached to 
 it, but 1 fancy so, owing to the immense success the chess- 
 player met with. ]\Ir. Anthon visited the whole of Europe, 
 always meeting with the same success ; but, at his death, 
 the celebrated automaton was purchased by Maelzel, who 
 embarked with it for Kew York. It was tJien, probably, 
 that Worousky took leave of his hospitable Turk, for the 
 automaton was not nearly so successful in America. After 
 exhibiting his mechanical trumpeter and chess-player for 
 some time, Maelzel set out again for France, but died on 
 the passage of an attack of indigestion. His heirs sold 
 his apparatus, and thus Cronier obtained his precious relic. 
 
 My fortunate star again furnished me with an excellent 
 occasion for continuing my studies. A Prussian of the 
 name of Koppen exhibited at Paris, about the year 1829, 
 an instrument known as the Componium. It was a perfect 
 mechanical orchestra, playing operatic overtures with 
 remarkable precision and effect, and it owed its name to 
 the circumstance that, by means of tnily marvellous 
 arrangements, this instrument improvised charming varia- 
 tions without ever repeating itself. It was asserted to be 
 as difficult to hear the same variation twice, as to find two 
 similar quatemes drawn in succession at the lottery. 
 
 The componium was enormously successful, but at last 
 public curiosity was exhausted, and it was withdrawn, 
 after bringing in the owner one hundred thousand francs 
 clear profit in a year. This amount, whether coiTect or 
 not, was adroitly published, and some time after the instru- 
 ment was put up for sale. A speculator of the name of 
 
koppen's componium. 127 
 
 D , seduced by the hope of obtaining equally large 
 
 receipts in a foreign country, bought the instrument, and 
 
 took it to England. Unfortunately for D , at the 
 
 moment when this goose with the golden eggs arrived in 
 London, George IV. died ; the court went into mourning, 
 and no one visited the instrument. lu order to avoid use- 
 less expense, D thought it prudent to give up a scheme 
 
 commenced under such evil auspices, and determined on 
 I'eturning to Paris. The componium was consequently 
 taken to pieces, packed up, and carried to France. 
 
 D hoped the instrument would enter duty free, but, 
 
 on leaving France, he had omitted some formality indis- 
 pensable before obtaining this favour. The Customs stopped 
 it, and he was obliged to refer the case to the Minister of 
 Trade. "While awaiting his decision, the chests were 
 deposited in damp warerooms, and it was not till the end 
 of the year, and after numberless formalities and difficulties, 
 that the instrument returned to Paris. 
 
 This will give an idea of the state of disorder, confusion, 
 and damage in which the componium was left. 
 
 Discouraged by the ill success of his trip to England, 
 
 D resolved on selling his mechanical improvisor, but, 
 
 before doing so, he cast about for a mechanician who would 
 undertake to put it in working order. I have forgotten to 
 state that, on the sale of the componium, M. Koppen had 
 handed over with it a very clever German workman, who 
 was, as it were, the driver of this gigantic instrument. 
 This person, finding he must sit with his hands before him 
 during the interminable formalities of the French Customs, 
 thought he could not do better than return home. 
 
 The repair of the componium w^as a tedious business — a 
 work of perseverance and research — for, as its arrangement 
 had always been kept secret, no one could supply the least 
 information. D • himself, having no notion of me- 
 chanism, could not be of the slightest use, so the workman 
 must only depend on his own ideas. 
 
 I heard the matter talked about, and, urged by a probably 
 too flattering opinion of myself, or, rather, dazzled by the 
 glory of executing such a splendid job, I offered to under- 
 take the immense repairs. 
 
128 MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 I was laughed at: the confession is humiliating, but 
 perfectly tnitliful. I must say, too, that it was justifiable, 
 for I was only known at that time as a humble workman, 
 and it was feared that, far from making the instrument act 
 properly, I should cause still gi-eater injury while tiying 
 
 to repair it. However, as D met with no better offer, 
 
 and I offered to deposit a sum, to be forfeited in the event 
 of my doing any injuiy, he eventually yielded to m}' 
 wishes. 
 
 It will be allowed that I was a very conscientious work- 
 man ; but, in reality, I acted for my own benefit, as this 
 undertaking, by supplying me with an interesting object of 
 study, would prove a perfect lesson in mechanism for me. 
 
 As soon as my offer was accepted, all the boxes in which 
 the componium was packed were carried into a large room 
 I used as a workshop, and emptied, pell-mell, into sheets, 
 spread for the purpose on the ground. 
 
 AVhen alone, and I saw this heap of rusty iron, these 
 myriads of parts, whose meaning I did not understand, llii> 
 orchestra of instruments of every size and shape, such fs- 
 cornets, bugles, hautboys, flutes, clarionets, bassoons, organ 
 pipes, big dnun, triangle, cymbals, &c., all arranged in 
 sizes, according to the chromatic scale, I was so frightened 
 by the difficulty of my task, that I was quite annihilated 
 for several hours. 
 
 To better understand my mad presumption, which onlj- 
 my passion for mechanics and my love of the marvellous 
 can excuse, I must add that I never even saw the com- 
 ponium performing ; hence, all was an unknown countr}^ 
 for me. Add to this, that the greater portion of the works 
 were covered with nist and verdigris. 
 
 Seated in llie midst of this musical chaos, willi my head 
 resting in my hands, I asked myself a hundred times this 
 simple question, " Where shall I begin ?" and then my 
 imagination was quite paralyzed. One morning, however, 
 finding myself well disposed, and feeling tlie influence of 
 the Hippocratic axiom, "Mens sana in corpore sano," I 
 felt disgusted at my long sloth, and rushed headforemost at 
 my immense t.ask. 
 
 If my readers were only mechanicians, how willingly 
 
UNEXPECTED SUCCESS. 129 
 
 wonld I describe to them all my trials, attempts, and 
 studies ! With what pleasure I would explain the skilful 
 and ingenious combinations that arose successively from 
 this chaos ! But, as I fancy I can see my readers turning 
 over my pages to seek the end of a chapter that is'growing 
 too serious, I will check my inclination, and content myself 
 with stating that, for a whole J^ear, I proceeded from the 
 known to the unknown, in solving this inextricable pro- 
 blem, and one day I had the happiness of seeing my labours 
 crowned with complete success. The componium — a new 
 phoenix — had risen from its ashes. 
 
 This unexpected success gained me the greatest praise, 
 
 and D bade me name my own price ; but I would not 
 
 accept anything beyond my actual outlay, feeling amply 
 repaid by such a glorious result. And yet, however high 
 my reward might have been, it would not have repaid me 
 what this task, which overtasked my strength, eventually 
 cost me. 
 
 CHAPTEE X. 
 
 An Inventor's Calculations — One Hundred Thousand Francs a Year by 
 an Inkstand : Deception— My new Automata — Tlic First Magician in 
 France : Decadence— I meet Antonio — Bosco — The Trick with the 
 Cups — An Execution— Kesurrection of the Criminals — Mistake in a 
 Head— The Canary rewarded. 
 
 My sleepless nights, my incessant toil, and, above all, the 
 feverish agitations resulting from all the emotions of such 
 tin arduous undertaking, had imdermined my health. A 
 brain-fever attacked me, and though I recovered from it, it 
 was only to pass five long years in listlessness and vacuit}^. 
 My mind seemed quite gone : I felt no passion, no love, no 
 interest, even in the arts I had so delighted in : conjuring 
 and mechanism only existed for me in the shape of recol- 
 lections. 
 
 But this illness, which had mastered the Faculty of 
 Paris, could not resist the refreshing air of the country, 
 where I retired for six months, and when I returned to 
 
130 MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 Paris, I was a new man. With what joy I saw again my 
 beloved tools ! With what ardour I resumed my work I 
 for I had to regain not only the lost time, but also the 
 enormous expenses incurred by my long illness. 
 
 My modest fortune was for the moment sensibly dimi- 
 nished, but on this point I was case-hardened ; for would 
 not my future performances fill up all these losses, and 
 insure me a handsome fortune ? Thus I discounted an un- 
 certain future ; but, after all, do not all inventors like to 
 convert their schemes into ingots ? 
 
 Perhaps, too, I unconsciously yielded to the influence of 
 one of my friends, an extraordinary projector, whom mis- 
 takes and deceptions never hindered forming fresh schemes. 
 Our manner of calculating the future had considerable 
 affinity. But I must do him this justice : however high 
 my estimate might be, he was far superior to me in that 
 respect. Here is an instance to judge by. 
 
 One day this friend called upon me, and showing me an 
 inkstand of his invention, which combined the double merit 
 of being safe from upset, and of always keeping the ink at 
 the same level, said, 
 
 " At last, my lad, I have hit it ; this invention will make 
 a revolution in the writing world, and allow me to walk 
 about like a gentleman, with a hundred thousand francs 
 a year — at the very lowest, understand me. But you can 
 judge for yourself, if you follow my calculations closely. 
 You know, there are thirty-six millions of inhabitants in 
 France ?" 
 
 I nodded an affirmative. 
 
 " Starting on this basis, I do not think I err if I assume 
 that at least one-half can write, eh ? or, say we take one- 
 third, or, to be still more sure, the round sum of ten mil- 
 lions. Now, I hope I shall not be charged with exaggera- 
 tion, if, out of these ten millions, I take one-tenth, or a 
 million, as the number of those looking after what may be 
 useful to them." 
 
 And my friend stopped here, and looked at me as much 
 as to say, " Am I not reasonable in my estimates ?" 
 
 " We have, then, in France one million men capable of 
 appreciating the benefits of my inkstand. Well, of this 
 
IMPROVED INKSTAIS'D. 131 
 
 number how many will you fallow who during the first year 
 hear of my inkstand, and consequently will purchase it?" 
 
 " Well," I replied, " I confess to a difficulty in giving 
 you an exact answer." 
 
 " Good Heavens! who spoke about exactness? I only 
 want an approximation, and that must be the lowest pos- 
 sible, that there may be no mistake." 
 
 " Well," I went on, continuing my friend's decimal cal- 
 culations, " take a tenth." 
 
 " Now, mind, you said a tenth, or, in other words, one 
 hundred thousand. But," the inventor continued, charmed 
 at seeing me share his brilliant calculations, " do you know 
 what the sale of these one hundred thousand inkstands will 
 produce me in a year ?" 
 
 " I can form no idea." 
 
 " I will then tell you. I have reserved myself one franc 
 on each inkstand sold. This gives a profit, then •" 
 
 " Of one hundred thousand francs, of course." 
 
 *' You see there is no difficulty in making the calcula- 
 tion. You must bear in mind, too, that the other nine 
 hundred thousand writers we left on one side will end by 
 appreciating my inkstand : they will also buy it. Then 
 what will the nine millions we omitted do ? And notice, 
 too, that I am only speaking of France, which is a mere dot 
 on the globe. When foreign countries know its merits, 
 
 when the English and their colonies order it Oh, it 
 
 would require a mathematician to reckon all this up !" 
 
 My friend wiped his brow, which had grown quite 
 damp during the heat of his address, and he ended by re- 
 peating, " Eemember, we established our estimate on the 
 lowest basis." 
 
 Unfortunately, that was the place where my friend's cal- 
 culation broke down. His inkstand, being much too dear, 
 was not purchased, and the inventor ended by adding this 
 gold-mine to his many other deceptions. 
 
 I, too", I confess, based my calculations on the census, or, 
 at least, on the approximative number of visitors to the 
 capital, and even at the lowest figure I arrived at a most 
 satisfactory result. But I do not regret having given way 
 to these fancies, for though they occasioned me various 
 
 K 2 
 
132 MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 disappointments, they served to keep Tip some energy in 
 my mind, and enabled me to wrestle against the numberless 
 diflBculties I encountered in making my autoiiciata. Besides, 
 who has not, once in his life at least, indulged in the gilded 
 calculations of my friend the inkstand inVentor ? 
 
 I have already repeatedly mentioned the automata I 
 made, and it is high time to describe the nature of the 
 articles intended to be used in my perfoimances. 
 
 The first was a small pastrycook issuing from his shop- 
 door at tlie word of command, and bringing, according to 
 the spectator's request, patties and refreshments of every 
 description. At the side of the shop assistant pastrycooks 
 might be seen rolling paste and putting it in the oven. 
 
 Another specimen represented two clowns, Auriol and 
 Debureau. The latter held out at arm's length a chair, on 
 which his merry comrade performed acrobatic tricks, like 
 his namesake at the Circus in the Champs Elysees. After 
 these performances Auriol smoked a pipe, and ended by 
 accompanying on the flageolet an air played by the 
 orchestra. 
 
 The next was a mysterious orange-tree, on which flowers 
 and fruit burst into life at the request of the ladies. As 
 the finale, a handkerchief I borrowed was conveyed into 
 an orange purposely left on the tree. This opened and 
 displayed the handkerchief, which two butterflies took by 
 the comers and unfolded before the spectators. 
 
 Lastly, I made a dial of transparent glass, which marked 
 the hours at the will of the spectators, and struck the 
 time on a crystal bell. 
 
 At the time I was most deeply engaged in these labours, 
 I made a very agreeable rencontre. While walking along 
 the Boulevards, full of thought, according to my usual 
 habit, I heard some one calling me. On turning round, an 
 elegantly-dressed man pressed my hand. 
 
 *' Antonio !" I exclaimed, as I embraced him, " how glad 
 I am to see you ! but why are you here — what are you 
 doing — and Torrini ?" 
 
 Antonio interrupted me. " I will tell j^ou all about it. 
 Come to my apartments, where we shall be more at ease. 
 I only live a few doors off." 
 
AGREEABLE RENCONTRE. 133 
 
 In fact, within two minutes we stopped in tlie Rue de 
 Lanciy before a very handsome house. 
 
 " Go up," Antonio said : " I live on the second floor." 
 
 A servant opened the door. " Is your mistress at home ?" 
 Antonio asked. 
 
 " No, sir ; but I was to tell you she would be in soon." 
 
 After leading me into a pretty drawing-room, Antonio 
 made me sit down by his side on a sofa. 
 
 " Now, my friend, let us talk, for we must have a great 
 deal to tell each other." 
 
 " Yes, let us talk ; for I confess that my curiosity is 
 strongly excited. I fancy at times I am dreaming." 
 
 " I will bring you back to real life," Antonio continued, 
 " by telling you what has happened to me since we parted. 
 Let us begin with poor Torrini." 
 
 I made a movement of pained surprise. 
 
 " What do you say, Antonio ? Can our friend ?" 
 
 " Yes, it is only too true. Death struck him at the mo- 
 ment we had every reason to hope a happier fate. On 
 leaving you, Torrini intended to return as quickly as pos- 
 sible to Italy. The Count de Grisy was anxious to reassume 
 his name, and revisit the scenes of past success, .*for he 
 hoped there to become again the brilliant magician of yore. 
 God decided otherwise. Just as we were about leaving 
 Lyons, where he had been giving some successful perform- 
 ances, he was suddenly seized with typhus fever, which 
 carried him off in a few days. 
 
 " I was his residuary legatee, and, after paying the last 
 honours to a man to whom I had pledged my life, I began 
 realizing my small fortune. I sold the horses and travel- 
 ling carriage, and kept the apparatus, as I intended to use 
 it. I had no profession, so I thought I could not do better 
 than take up one, for which the road was clear before me, 
 and I hoped that my name, to which my brother-in-law 
 had given a certain celebrity in France, would assist me. 
 It was very bold in me to try and fill the place of such 
 a master, but I thought my impudence would answer as 
 well as talent. 
 
 *' Hence I called myself Signer Torrini, and, after the 
 fashion of my rivals, I added the title of ' first magician 
 
134 MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 of France.* Each of us is always the first and the most 
 skilful in the country where he happens to be, unless he 
 think proper to call himself the first in the whole world. 
 Conjuring is a profession in which, as you know, no one 
 errs througli excess of modesty, and the custom of producing 
 illusions facilitates this issue of bad money, which the 
 public, it is true, appreciates and sets its real value on. 
 
 " So it behaved to me, for, despite my pompous an- 
 nouncements, I frankly confess it did not recognize the 
 celebrity I claimed. On the contrary, my performances 
 were so little attended, that my receipts were hardly suffi- 
 cient for my existence. Still I went from town to town, 
 giving my performances, and nourishing myself more often 
 on hope than on reality. But the moment arrived when 
 this unsubstantial food no longer sufficed me, and I was 
 forced to stop. I had exhausted my resources : I had 
 nothing left but my instruments. My clothes were reduced 
 to the sheerest necessity, and threatened to desert me at 
 any moment : thus hesitation was impossible. I decided 
 on selling my instruments, and, provided with the small 
 sum they produced me, I set out for Paris, the last refuge 
 of those whose talent is neglected and position hopeless. 
 
 " In spite of my ill success, I had lost none of my stock 
 of philosophy, and, though not very happy, I was full of 
 hope in the future. Yes, my friend — yes, I had a presenti- 
 ment at that time of the brilliant position fate reserved for 
 me, and to which it led me, I may say, by the hand. 
 
 '* .Once arrived at Paris, I hired a modest room, and de- 
 termined to live as savingly as possible, in order to make 
 my money hold out. You see that, in spite of my con- 
 fidence in the future, I took some precautions, so as not to 
 run the risk of dying of hunger ; but you will allow I acted 
 wrong in not trusting entirely to my lucky star. 
 
 " I had hardly been in Paris a week, when I met an old 
 comrade, a Florentine, who used to perform as second 
 basso in my old theatre. He, too, had been maltreated by 
 Fortune, and, having come to Paris, he found himself re- 
 duced to accept a situation in the chorus of the Opera. 
 When I had revealed my position to him, he told me a tenor 
 situation was vacant in the chorus, and advised me to try 
 
Antonio's story. 135 
 
 and get it : I accepted the offer with pleasure, thougli, of 
 course, as merely transitional, for I felt a pang at my 
 descent. Still, prudence suggested I had better guard 
 against want. 
 
 " I have often noticed," Antonio continued, " that those 
 events which inspire us with the greatest doubt turn out 
 the most favourable, and mine was a case in point. As I 
 had a good deal of spare time, I thought I would employ it 
 in giving singing lessons. I therefore described myself as 
 a singer at the Opera, while concealing the position I occu- 
 pied there. Procuring my first pupil was as difficult as 
 saving the first hundred pounds towards a fortune, and I 
 had to wait a long time. At length I caught him ; then 
 others : and, gradually, I had enough pupils to enable me 
 to leave the theatre. 
 
 " I must tell you this determination had another reason. 
 I loved one of my lady pupils, and she returned my affifection. 
 Under such circumstances it was not prudent to remain a 
 •chorus-singer, which might have impeded my views. You 
 naturally expect some romantic adventure ; but nothing 
 •could be more simple than the event which crowned our 
 loves — it was marriage. 
 
 " Madame Torrini, whom you will see presently, was the 
 -daughter of a retired laceman. Her father, a widower, with 
 no other children, had no will but his daughter's, and he 
 accepted my offers. He was the worthiest of men; but, 
 unfortunately, we lost him two years ago. I retired from 
 my professional duties on the fortune he left us, and I now 
 live happily and calmly in a position which realizes my 
 most brilliant dreams of old. This is another proof," my 
 philosophic friend said, in conclusion, " that however pre- 
 carious may be the position in which a man finds himself, 
 he ought never to despair of luck turning." 
 
 My story was not so long as Antonio's, for, with the ex- 
 ception of my marriage, there was no event worthy narrat- 
 ing. I told him, however, of my long illness, and the work 
 that had brought it on, and I had scare ended when Madame 
 Torrini entered the room. My friend's wife received me 
 most kindly, saying : 
 
 '* I have known you, sir, for a long time, as Antonio told 
 
136 MEMOIItS OF ROBERT-H0UDIN\ 
 
 me your historj'', which caused mo to feel the greatest in- 
 terest, and my husband and myself often legretted we could 
 not hear of you. Now, however, M. Robert," she added^ 
 " that we have found you, consider yourself an old friend 
 of the family, and come to see us often." 
 
 I profited by this kind invitation, and more than once 
 went to seek consolation and encouragement from these 
 worthy friends. 
 
 Antonio still took an interest in conjuring, although it 
 was a mere distraction by which he amused his friends. 
 Still, not a conjuror announced his performances but he 
 went to see him. One morning he entered my workshop in 
 great haste. 
 
 *' Look here," he said, offering me a paper, *' as you run 
 after all the celebrated conjurors, here is one that will 
 astonish you. Eead." 
 
 I took the paper eagerly, and read the following puff; — 
 
 " The famous Bosco, who can conjure away a house as 
 easily as a nutmeg, is about to give his performances at 
 Paris, in which some miraculous tricks will be executed." 
 
 " Well, what do you say to that?" Antonio asked me. 
 
 ** A man must possess very great talent to undertake the 
 responsibility of such praise. After all, I think the jour- 
 nalist is amusing himself at the expense of his readers, and 
 that the famous Bosco only exists in his columns." 
 
 "You are quite wrong, my dear Eobert : this conjuror 
 is not an imaginary being, for not only have I read this puff 
 in several papers, but I even saw Bosco last night at a cafe^ 
 giving some specimens of his skill, and announcing his first 
 performance for next Tuesday." 
 
 " If it be so," I said to my friend, "I must ask you to 
 spend the evening with M. Bosco, and I will come and call 
 for you." 
 
 " Done," said Antonio ; " mind and call for me on Tues- 
 day at half-past seven, as the performance commences at 
 eight." 
 
 At the appointed time we proceeded to the Eue Chante- 
 reine, where the performance was announced. At the 
 money-taker's box we found ourselves face to face with a 
 stout gentleman, dressed in a coat adorned with frogs and 
 
BOSCO THE CONJUROR. 187 
 
 trimmed with fur, making him look like a Eussian prince 
 on his travels. Antonio nudged me with his elbow, and 
 said, in a whisper, " That's he !" 
 
 " Who's he ?" 
 
 " Why, Bosco." 
 
 " All the worse," I said ; " I am sorry for him." 
 
 " Explain yourself, for I do not understand the harm a 
 Boyard's dress can do a man." 
 
 " My friend, I do not blame M. Bosco so much for his 
 dress as for occupying his present place. I think an artiste 
 cannot be too chary of his person oif the stage ; there is so 
 much difference between the man whom an entire audience 
 listens to and applauds, and the director who comes openly 
 to watch his paltry interests, that the latter must injure the 
 former." 
 
 During this conversation, my friend and myself had en- 
 tered the room and taken our seats. According to the idea* 
 I had formed of a magician's laboratory, I expected to find 
 myself before a curtain whose large folds, when withdrawn, 
 would display before mj dazzled eyes a brilliant stage or- 
 namented with apparatus worthy of the celebrity announced ; 
 but my illusions on this subject soon faded away. 
 
 A curtain had been considered superfluous, and the stage 
 was open. Before me was a long three-storied sideboard, 
 entirely covered with black serge. This lugubrious buffet 
 was adorned with a number of wax candles, among which 
 glistened the apparatus. At the topmost point of this 
 strange etagere was a death's-head, much surprised, I have 
 no doubt, at finding itself at such a festival, and it quite 
 produced the effect of a funeral service. 
 
 In front of the stage, and near the spectators, was a table 
 covered by a brown cloth, reaching to the ground, on which 
 five brass cups were symmetrically arranged. Finally, above 
 this table hung a copper ball, which strangely excited my 
 curiosity.* 
 
 For the life of me I could not imagine what this was 
 
 * Since this period Bosco has changed his stage decorations : his 
 cloths have altered their colours, his candles are shorter, but the death's- 
 head, the ball, the costume, and the tricks, have ever remained the 
 same. 
 
138 MEMOIR OF ROBERT-HOUmN. 
 
 for, SO I determined to wait till Bosco came to explain it. 
 Antonio had entered into conversation with his neighbour, 
 who spoke in the most enthusiastic manner of the perform- 
 ance we were about to witness. The silvery sound of a 
 small bell put an end to my reverie and to my friend's con- 
 versation, and Bosco appeared on the stage. 
 
 The artiste had changed his costume : he had substituted 
 for the Russian great-coat a little black velvet jacket, fastened 
 round the waist by a leathern belt of the same colour. His 
 sleeves were excessively short, and displayed a handsome 
 arm. He wore loose black trousers, ornamented at the 
 bottom with a ruche of lace, and a large white collar round 
 his neck. This strange attire bore considerable resemblance 
 to the classical costume of the Scapins in our plays. 
 
 After making a majestic bow to his audience, the cele- 
 brated conjuror walked silently and with measured steps 
 np to the famous copper ball. After convincing himself it 
 was solidly hung, he took up his wand, which he wiped 
 with a white handkerchief, as if to remove any foreign in- 
 fluence ; then, with imperturbable gravity, he struck the 
 ball thrice with it, pronouncing, amid iiie most solemn 
 silence, this imperious summons : Spiriti miei infernali, obedite. 
 
 I, like a simpleton, scarce breathed in my expectation 
 of some miraculous result, but it was only an innocent 
 pleasantry, a simple introduction to the performance with 
 the cups. I was, I confess, rather disappointed, for, in my 
 opinion, this performance was only suited for the public 
 streets, and I did not expect any one would venture it on 
 a Paris stage in 1838. I was justified in this view, as two 
 persons, Miette and Lesprit, might be daily seen going 
 through this performance in the streets. Still, I must say 
 that Bosco displayed great skill, and was heartily applauded 
 by the public. 
 
 " Well," Antonio's neighbour said, victoriously, " was I 
 not right ? — is he not remarkably clever ? But you'll see, 
 that's nothing as yet." 
 
 Either Antonio was in a bad temper, or the performance 
 did not please him, for he could not " plant" the admiration 
 he had been quite prepared to bestow. In fact, he became 
 most impatient when Bosco commenced the *' pigeon trick." 
 
AN EXECUTION. 139 
 
 Still, it must be allowed that the mise en scene and the exe- 
 cution were of a nature to irritate nerves even less sensitive 
 than my friend's. 
 
 A servant placed on small tables on either side the stage 
 two small blocks of black wood, on each of which a death's- 
 head was painted. They were the blocks for the culprits. 
 Bosco then came forward, holding a knife in one hand and 
 a black pigeon in the other. 
 
 "Here is a pizon" (I forgot to state that Bosco spoke 
 with a strong Italian accent) " zat has behaved badly. I 
 am going to cut off his head ; zall it be, ladies, wiz blood or 
 wizout ?" (This was one of his strong points.) 
 
 Some people laughed, but the ladies hesitated to reply to 
 this strange question. 
 
 " Without blood," a spectator said. Bosco then placed 
 the pigeon's head on the block, and cut it off, being careful 
 to press the neck, and prevent the effusion of blood. 
 
 " You zee, ladies," the operator said, " zat ze pizon does 
 not bleed, as you ordered." 
 
 "With blood," suppose another spectator said. Then 
 Bosco loosened the artery, and let the blood run on a plate, 
 which he handed round for inspection. The head, after 
 being cut off, was placed upright on one of the blocks ; and 
 Bosco, taking advantage of a convulsive movement, which 
 caused the beak to open, made this barbarous jest : " Come, 
 mossiou, bow to zis amiable company — now once more. Ah, 
 ah, zat is right." 
 
 The public listened, but no longer laughed. 
 
 The same operation was performed on a white pigeon 
 without the slightest variation, after which Bosco placed 
 the bodies in two false-bottomed boxes, being careful to put 
 the black head with the white pigeon, and the white head 
 with the black one. Then he repeated his conjurations 
 over the boxes, and when he opened them, a black pigeon 
 came out with a white head, and a white one with a black 
 head. Each of the culprits, according to Bosco, had been 
 restored to life, and assumed its comrade's head. 
 
 " Well, what do you think of that ?" Antonio's neighbour 
 asked him, as he clapped vociferously. 
 
 " To tell you the truth," my friend replied, " I must say 
 
140 MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOUDIN-. 
 
 the trick is not very wonderful. Besides, I should like it 
 better were it performed with less cruelty." 
 
 " Ah, you have delicate nerves, I see," the neighbour 
 said ; " perhaps you experience similar sensations when you 
 see a fowl killed and put on the spit ?** 
 
 " Allow me, sir, before answering you," my friend re- 
 plied, sharply, " to ask if I have come here to see a kitchen 
 performance ?" 
 
 The discussion was growing warm, and was rather savage 
 in its tone, when a tlurd party terminated the dispute by 
 the following jest : — 
 
 *' Hang it, sir," he said to Antonio, " if jou do not like 
 cruelty, at any rate do not disgust other people with it." 
 
 Bosco now returned on the stage with a canary in his 
 hand. 
 
 " Zentlemen," he said, "this is Piarot: he is ver}^ polite, 
 and zall zalute you. Come, Piarot, do your duty." And ho 
 pinched the bird's claws with such force that the unfortunate 
 tried to escape from this ciiiel clutch. Overcome by pain, 
 it bent down over the juggler's hand, uttering cries of dis- 
 tress. 
 
 *' Zat is good ; I am zatisfied wiz you. You see, ladies, 
 he not only zalute you, but he says ' Good night.' Continue, 
 Piarot, you zall be rewarded." 
 
 The same torture made the bird bow twice more, and to 
 reicard it its master placed it in the hands of a lady, begging 
 her to keep it. But during the passage the bird had ended 
 its life, and reached the lady's hand dead. Bosco had 
 strangled it. 
 
 "Oh, good Heavens, madam!" the conjuror exclaimed, 
 *' I believe you have killed my Piarot — you zall have 
 squeezed him too moch. Piarot — Piarot I" he added, toss- 
 ing the bird in the air, " Piarot, answer to me. Ah, madam, 
 he is dezidedly dead. What zall my wife say when she 
 sees Bosco arrive wizout his Piarot : quite zurely I zall be 
 beaten by Madame Bosco." (I must observe, here, that all 
 I describe is literally true.) 
 
 The bird was interred in a large box, whence, after fresh 
 conjurations, a living bird came out. This new victim was 
 fated to suffer shorter agony. It was thrust alive into the 
 
BOSCO'S POPULARITY, 141 
 
 barrel of a large pistol, and Bosco, holding a sword in his 
 hand, begged a spectator to fire at the point of the weapon 
 he held out to him. The pistol was fired, and a third victim 
 was seen spitted on the point of the sword. 
 
 Antonio rose. " Let ns go," he said, " for I am turning 
 sick." 
 
 I have seen Bosco several times since then, and each 
 time I studied him carefully, not only to try and explain 
 the cause of the great fashion he enjoyed, but also to be 
 able to compare the various opinions expressed about this 
 celebrated man. Here are some deductions drawn from 
 my observations. 
 
 Bosco's performances generally please a large number, 
 for the public suppose that, through some inexplicable 
 address, the bird-murders are simply feigned, and, tranquil 
 on this point, they indulge in all the pleasure caused by 
 the talent of the conjurer and the originality of his accent. 
 Bosco has a quaint and full-sounding name, adapted to 
 become popular, and no one knows better than he how to 
 take advantage of it. Neglecting no opportunity for 
 notoriety, he performs at any hour of the day, whatever 
 may be the quality and number of the spectators. In a 
 coach, at a table d'hote, in cafes or shops, he never fails to 
 give some specimen of his skill, by juggling a coin, a ring, 
 and so on. 
 
 The witnesses of these little improvised performances 
 consider themselves bound to return Bosco's politeness, by 
 attending his public performance. They have formed the 
 acquaintance of the celebrated conjuror, and are obliged to 
 sustain the reputation of their new friend. Hence, they 
 urge all their acquaintances to go also, puff off the perform- 
 ance, and thus the room is always full. 
 
 It must also be mentioned that numerous accomplices 
 help Bosco's popularity materially. Each of them, it is 
 known, is instiTicted to hand the magician a handkerchief, 
 shawl, watch, &c., which he has in double. This allows 
 him to pass them with an appearance of magic or skill, 
 into a cabbage, a loaf, a box, or any other object. These 
 accomplices, while aiding in the conjuror's experiments, 
 have a erreat interest in securino; their success : for their 
 
142 MEMOmS OF EOBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 self-love finds its profit in the success of the mystification. 
 Besides, they have no objection to accept some of the 
 applause as their due : hence, the magician has as many 
 admirers as accomplices, and the influence a dozen intelli- 
 gent prompters can exert in a room is well known. 
 
 Such were the influences which, joined to Bosco's talent, 
 gained him a great renown for many years. 
 
 CHAPTEK XI. 
 
 A Keverse of Fortune — Cookery and Clockwork— The Artist's Home- 
 Invention of an Automaton — Voluntary Exile — A modest Villa — 
 The Inconveniences of a Specialty — Two August Visitors — The 
 Throat of a mechanical Nightingale — The Tiou and the Krrrrrrrouit 
 — Seven Thousand Francs earned by making Filings. 
 
 In the mean while I worked indefatigably at my automata, 
 hoping that when these were completed, I should be able 
 to establish myself permanently. But, in spite of my 
 activity, I advanced very slowly towards the realization of 
 my long-deferred hopes. 
 
 Only an inventor can know the value of a day's work on 
 the gloomy road to success in combining automata. Num- 
 berless trials and deceptions of every nature foil at any 
 moment the best-conceived plans, and seem to realize the 
 pleasant story about reaching the end of a journey by 
 making two steps forward and three backward. 
 
 I performed this wearisome progress during six months, 
 and, at the end of that time, though I had several speci- 
 mens far advanced, it was still impossible for me to fix the 
 period when they would be quite finished. In order not to 
 defer my appearance before the public, I therefore resolved 
 to begin with my conjuring tricks and such automata as 
 were ready. I had arranged with an architect, who was 
 to help me in finding a suitable site for a theatre, but I had 
 scarce taken my first steps, when an unforeseen catastrophe 
 ruined both my father-in-law and myself. 
 
 This reverse of fortune threw me into a state of abject 
 despondency, for I saw, to my terror, the realization of my 
 
r 
 
 mans i 
 
 REVEESE OF FORTUNE. 143 
 
 ^ans indefinitely postponed. I could no longer think of 
 inventing machines, but must work, day by day, to support 
 my large family. I had four children, all very young, 
 and this was a heavy burden on a man who had never yet 
 thought of his own interests. 
 
 The vulgar truth, " Time dissipates the severest griefs," 
 is not the less true from being so often repeated ; and it 
 was the case with me. I was at first as wretched as man 
 could well be ; then my despair gradually died away, and 
 made room for sorrow and resignation. At last, as it is not 
 in my nature to keep up a melancholy character long, I 
 ended by accepting the situation. Then the future, which 
 had appeared so gloomy, assumed a different face, and, by 
 a gradual process of reasoning, I began to indulge in 
 reflections whose consoling philosophy restored my courage. 
 
 " Why should I despair ?" I said to myself. " At my 
 age, time itself is a fortune, and I have a considerable 
 reserve fund of that. Besides, who knows whether Provi- 
 dence, by sending me this trial, has not wished to delay an 
 undertaking that was not yet quite assured of success ?" 
 
 In fact, what had I to offer the public that would over- 
 come the indifference a new performer always inspires ? — 
 improved conjuring tricks ? Those, I thought, would not 
 prevent me failing, for I was unaware at that period that, 
 in order to please the public, an idea must be, if not novel, 
 at least completely transformed, so that it cannot be 
 recognized. Only in that way can an artiste escape a 
 remark that always fills him with dread — " I have seen 
 that before." My automata and mechanical curiosities 
 would not have betrayed the hopes I built upon them, but 
 I had too few, and the specimens I had in hand still 
 required years of study and labour. 
 
 These wise reflections restored my courage, and, re- 
 signed to my new situation, I resolved to effect an utter 
 reform in my budget. I had nothing more to look for 
 than what I earned with my own hands, so I hired a 
 modest lodging, at three hundred francs a year, in the Kue 
 du Temple. It consisted of a room, a cabinet, and a stove 
 in a cupboard, to which my proprietor gave the name of 
 kitchen. I converted the largest room into our common 
 
144 MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-HODDIN, 
 
 bleeping apartment, the cabinet served as my workshop, 
 ■while the stove kitchen was used to prepare our modest 
 meals. 
 
 My wife, though in delicate health, undertook the 
 household department. Fortunately, this was not very 
 laborious, as our meals were most modest; and as our 
 rooms were limited in number, there was not much moving 
 about required. The proximity of our mutual laboratories 
 had also this double advantage, that, whenever my house- 
 keeper was absent, I could watch the pot-au-feu or stir a 
 ragoiit without leaving my levers, wheels, and cogs. 
 
 These vulgar occupations for an artiste will make many a 
 reader smile, but when a man cannot aiford to keep a 
 servant, and the quality of the dinner, consisting of a 
 single dish, depends on the care devoted to it, it is better 
 to pocket one's dignity and attend to the culinary depart- 
 ment, at any rate, without feeling false shame. However, 
 it appears that I performed my confidential mission ad- 
 mirably, for my exactitude gained me abundant praise. 
 Still, I must confess that I had very slight talent for cook- 
 ing, and this boasted exactitude was produced by my fear 
 of incurring the reproaches of my head cook. 
 
 This humble existence was less painful to me than I had 
 imagined. . 1 had always been moderate, and the privation 
 of succulent dishes affected me very little. My wife, 
 surrounded by her children, to whom she devoted her 
 utmost care, seemed equally happy, while hoping for better 
 times to come. 
 
 I had resumed my first trade, that of repairing watches 
 and clocks. Still, this was only to secure our hand-to- 
 mouth existence, for all the while I was repairing I was 
 meditating a piece of clockwork, the success of which 
 restored some ease to our household. It was an alanim, 
 which was thus an-anged : — 
 
 You placed it by your side when you went to bed, and, 
 *at the hour desired, a peal aroused the sleeper, while, at 
 the same time, a ready lighted candle came out from a 
 small box. I was the prouder of this invention and its 
 success, as it was the first of my ideas which produced me 
 any profit. 
 
A FINANCIAL CRISIS. 145 
 
 This " alarum light," as I christened it, was so popular 
 that, in order to satisfy the great demand for it, I was 
 obliged to add a workshop to my rooms, and hire several 
 workmen. Encouraged by such a favourable result, I 
 turned my attention afresh to inventions, and gave a free 
 scope to my imagination. I succeeded in making several 
 more toys, among which was one which my readers will 
 probably remember to have seen in the shop-windows. It 
 was a glass dial, mounted on a column of the same material. 
 This " mysterious clock " (as I called it), although entirely 
 transparent, indicated the hour with the greatest exactness, 
 and struck, without any apparent mechanism to make it 
 move. I also constructed several automata, such as a 
 conjuror playing with cups, a dancer on the tight-rope, 
 singing birds, &c. 
 
 It may strike the reader that, with so many strings to 
 my bow, and such amusing toys to make, my situation 
 would be considerably improved, but it was not so. Each 
 day, on the contrary, produced fresh trouble in my trade 
 as well as in my household, and I even saw a financial 
 crisis approaching which I found it impossible to prevent. 
 
 The cause of this result was very simple. While en- 
 gaged with the mechanical toys I have just mentioned, I 
 still worked at my theatrical automata, for which my 
 passion had been again aroused by my present labours. 
 Like the gambler, who throws his last farthing on the 
 board, I invested all my earnings in my theatrical prepara- 
 tions, hoping these would soon repay me for my sacrifices 
 with a hundred per cent, profit. 
 
 But it was fated that I should no sooner see the realiza- 
 tion of my projects close at hand, than an unforeseen event 
 should remove it again from my grasp. I had a sum of 
 two thousand francs to pay at the end of the month ; I had 
 not a penny to meet it, and I had only three days left 
 before the bill I had accepted became due. 
 
 Never did an embarrassment arrive more inopportunely ! 
 I had just formed the plan of an automaton in which I had 
 placed the greatest hopes. It was a " writing and drawing 
 automaton," answering in writing or emblematic de- 
 signs questions proposed by the spectators^ • and I intended 
 
 L 
 
146 MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 to employ this figure between tlie performances in my future 
 theatre. 
 
 Once more was I obliged to check the flight of my 
 imagination to absorb myself in the vulgar and difficult 
 problem of meeting a bill when you have no money. 
 I might, it is true, have saved myself all trouble by applying 
 to my friends, but prudence and delicacy rendered it my 
 duty to pay it from my own resources. Providence doubt- 
 lessly i-ecognized the merit of my resolution, for he sent me 
 a saving idea. 
 
 I had sold several mechanical toys to M. G , a 
 
 rich curiosity dealer, who had always treated me with 
 marked kindness. I went to him, and gave him an exact 
 description of my new automaton, and necessity must 
 
 have rendered me eloquent, for M. G was so satisfied 
 
 that he bought my automaton on the spot, which I 
 bound myself to deliver to him within eighteen months. 
 The price was arranged at five thousand francs, half 
 
 of which M. G agreed to pay me in advance, 
 
 reserving to himself the right, if I failed in my promise, 
 of recouping himself by purchasing several of my automatic 
 toys. 
 
 Imagine my joy when I returned home, holding in 
 my hands the money to meet the bill ! But the prospect 
 of devoting myself for a long time to the manufacture of an 
 article satisfying my mechanical taste, rendered me even 
 happier. 
 
 Still, the princely way in which M. G had concluded 
 
 the bargain produced some serious thoughts as to the 
 promise I had made him. I now saw a thousand obstacles 
 to prevent me keeping my word. I calculated that, even 
 if I devoted every moment to my work, I should lose much 
 time by causes I could not foresee or hinder. There were, 
 first, friends, customers, and bores ; then a family dinner, 
 an evening party, that could not be declined, a visit that 
 must be paid, and so on. These claims on politeness, 
 which I must respect, would inevitably cause me to break 
 my word : in vain I racked my brain in devising some 
 scheme to gain time, or at least not to lose it ; still, I could 
 only succeed at the expense of my good temper. I there- 
 
VOLUNTARY EXILE. 147 
 
 fore formed the resolution which my relatioiis and friends 
 declared to be madness, but from which they could not turn 
 me, and that was to exile myself voluntarily until my task 
 was completed. 
 
 Paris not appearing to me a secure place against 
 •annoyance, I chose the suburbs as my retreat, and one 
 fine day, despite the prayers and supplications of my 
 whole family, after intrusting my business to one of 
 my workmen, whose talent and probity I was convinced 
 of, I proceeded to Belleville, and installed myself in 
 a little room in the Eue des Bois, which I hired 
 for twelve months, at a hundred francs. The only fur- 
 niture was a bed, a chest of drawers, a table, and a few 
 chairs. 
 
 This act of madness, as my friends called it, or this 
 heroic determination, as I called it, saved me from im- 
 minent ruin, and was my first step on the ladder of success. 
 From this moment an obstinate will was aroused in me 
 which enabled me to confront many obstacles and difficul- 
 ties. 
 
 I am bound to confess that the first days of my retirement 
 were painful, and I bitterly deplored the harsh necessity 
 that thus isolated me from all I loved. The socdety of my 
 wdfe and children had grown a necessity to me ; a kiss from 
 these dear beings restored my courage in hours of de- 
 spondency, and now I was deprived of it. Surely I 
 must have been supported by an enormous strength of 
 will not to turn back at the prospect of this frightful 
 vacuum. 
 
 Many times I furtively wiped away a tear, but then I 
 closed my eyes, and straightway my automaton, and the 
 various combinations that were to animate it, appeared 
 before me like a consoling vision; I passed in review 
 all the wheels I had created ; I smiled upon them like 
 so many children of my own ; and when I emerged from 
 this restorative dream I set to work again, filled with a 
 courageous resignation. 
 
 It had been arranged that my wife and children should 
 spend every Thursday evening with me, and I always 
 dined at home on Sunday. These few hours devoted 
 
 L 2 
 
148 MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 to my family were the only amusements I allowed my- 
 self. 
 
 At my wife's request, the portress of the house had 
 agreed to prepare my meals : this excellent creature, an old 
 cordon bleu, had left service to marry a mason of the name of 
 Monsieur Auguste. This gentleman, judging by my modest 
 existence in the house, thought me a poor devil who found 
 some difficulty in keeping himself : hence, he assumed an 
 air of generous protection, or kindly pity, towards nic As 
 he was a worthy man at the bottom, I pardoned his ways^ 
 and only laughed at them. 
 
 My new cook had received special instructions to treat 
 me famously, but, not wishing to increase my household 
 expenses, I, on my side, made stipulations which were kept 
 with the greatest secrecy. I arranged my meals after the 
 following fashion : Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and 
 Thursdays I lived on an enormous dish, to which my chef 
 gave the generic name oifricot, but that made no difference 
 to me. On Friday and Saturday, for the sake of my health, 
 I lived low ; haricot beans, either white or red, satisfied my 
 hunger, and with them a composite soup, often reminding 
 me of the gastronomic tastes of an Auvergnat, and 1 dined 
 as well, and perhaps better, than Brillat-Savarin himself. 
 
 This mode of life offered me two advantages : I spent 
 little, and indigestion never troubled the clearness of my 
 ideas, I required this, however, for it must not be supposed 
 that mechanical difficulties were the only ones I had to con- 
 tend against in making my automaton. My readers may 
 judge, from the following incident, which also proves the 
 truth of the proverb, *' Willing is doing." 
 
 At the commencement of my labour I had ordered 
 from a wood-carver the body, head, legs, and arms of 
 my writer, and had applied to an ai-tist, particularly recom- 
 mended to me as most skilful, and I had tried to make him 
 understand the importance I attached to my automaton 
 having an intelligent face. My Phidias had replied that I 
 might trust to him. 
 
 A month after my sculptor made his appearance : ho 
 carefully removed the wrapper, and showed me arms and 
 legs splendidly carved, and ended by handing me the head. 
 
A XEW RESOLUTIO^f. 149 
 
 with an air that seemed to signify, *' What do you think of 
 that?" 
 
 After what I had already seen I was prepared to 
 admire a masterpiece, but imagine my stupor on observing 
 that the head belonged to a saint! Quite astounded 
 at this, I looked at my friend as if seeking an explanation, 
 but he did not seem to understand me, and continued 
 to point out all the beauties of his work. I had no 
 good reason to refuse it, for, after its fashion, it was 
 a very fine; head; so I accepted it, though it could be 
 of no use to me. At any rate, I wished to know the 
 motive that induced my sculptor to select such a type, and, 
 by dint of cross-examination, I learned that his special trade 
 was carving saints, and he could not emerge from his usual 
 *' groove." 
 
 After this check, I applied to another artist, being 
 careful to inquire of him previously whether he had been 
 in the habit of carving heads of saints. In spite of my 
 precautions, I only got from this artist a head bearing a strong 
 family likeness to those Nuremberg dolls made to act as lay 
 figures in studios. 
 
 I had not the courage to make a third trial; yet 
 my writer required a head, and I regarded my chefs- 
 d'oeuvre in turn. Keither could by possibility suit me. A 
 head with not the slightest expression spoiled my automaton, 
 while a holy Jerome on the body of a writer dressed in the 
 Louis XV. style would be a terrible anachronism. 
 
 " And yet the face I want is engraved here," I said 
 striking my forehead. " AVhat a pity I cannot carve it — 
 suppose I were to try !" 
 
 It has always been my character to set about a scheme as 
 soon as I had formed it, whatever the difficulties might be. 
 Hence I took a piece of modelling wax, made it into a ball, 
 in which I formed three holes, representing mouth and eyes, 
 then sticking on a patch for a nose, I stopped to admire 
 my handiwork. 
 
 Have you ever noticed a toy belonging to earliest youth, 
 representing two blacksmiths at work on an anvil, which 
 they are made to strike in turn by pulling two parallel 
 rods ! Well, those mechanical combinations, sold at one 
 
150 MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 penny, I believe are perfect marvels of art in comparison 
 with my first essay in modelling. 
 
 Dissatisfied, disgusted, and almost angry, I threw my 
 clumsy attempt aside, and thought of some other plan to- 
 escape my difficulty. But I have already said I am ob- 
 stinate and persevering in all I undertake, and the greater 
 the difficulty seems, the more I feel myself pledged to sur- 
 mount it. The night passed in dreams which showed mo 
 my task satisfactorily accomplished, and the next morning; 
 I took heart, and went at it again. In fe-ct, by passing a 
 chisel over my ball — by taking away from one side and 
 adding to the other — I succeeded in making eyes, mouth, 
 and nose, which, if not regular, had at least the appearance 
 of a human form. 
 
 The following days were spent in fresh studies and im- 
 provements, and each time I noticed some progress in my 
 work. Still a moment arrived when I was tembly embar- 
 rassed. The face was regular, but that was not enough. I 
 must give it some sort of character ; but as I had no model, 
 the task seemed beyond my strength. 
 
 The idea struck me of looking in the glass, and judging 
 from my own face what features produce expression. Sit- 
 ting down, then, as if writing, I studied my full face and 
 profile, and tried to imitate what I saw. I was engaged at 
 this task a long while, incessantly touching and retouching, 
 until one fine day I found my work finished, and I stopped 
 to look at it more attentively. Judge of my surprise on 
 finding that I had imconsciously produced an exact like- 
 ness of myself. Far from being vexed at this unexpected 
 result, I was pleased, for it was quite natural this child of 
 my imagination should have my features. I was not sorry 
 to place this family seal on a work to which I attached such 
 importance. 
 
 I had been now living for more than a year at Belleville, 
 and I saw with extreme pleasure the end of my task and of 
 my exile drawing near. After many doubts as to the 
 success of my enterprise, the solemn moment arrived when 
 I should make the first trial of my writer. I had spent the 
 whole day in giving the last touches to the automaton, 
 which sat before me as if awaiting my orders, and prepared 
 
SUCCESSFUL RESULT. 151 
 
 to answer the questions I asked it. I had only to press 
 the spring in order to enjoy the long-awaited result. My 
 heart beat violently, and though I was alone, I trembled 
 with emotion at the mere thought of this imposing trial. 
 
 I had just laid the first sheet of paper before my writer, 
 and asked him this question : — 
 
 " Who is the author of your being ?" 
 
 I pressed the spring, and the clockwork began acting. I 
 dared hardly breathe through fear of disturbing the opera- 
 tions. The automaton bowed to me, and I could not refrain 
 from smiling on it as on my own son. But when I saw 
 the eyes fix an attentive glance on the paper— when the 
 arm, a few seconds before numb and lifeless, began to move 
 and trace my signature in a firm handwriting — the tears 
 started to my eyes, and I fervently thanked Heaven for 
 granting me such success. And it was not alone the satis- 
 faction I experienced as inventor, but the certainty I had of 
 being able to restore some degree of comfort to my family, 
 that caused my deep feeling of gratitude. 
 
 After making my Sosia repeat my signature a thousand 
 times, I gave it this next question : " What o'clock is it?" 
 
 The automaton, acting in obedience to a clock, wrote : 
 *' It is two in the morning." 
 
 This was a very timely warning. I profited by it, and 
 went straight to bed. Against my expectations, I enjoyed 
 a sleep I had not known for a long time. 
 
 There may be among those that read my book some who 
 have also created some successful work. They will know 
 that next to the happiness of enjoying one's own invention, 
 nothing is so flattering as to ofi"er it to the notice of a third 
 party. Moliere and J. J. Eousseau consulted their servants, 
 and, I must confess, it afforded me great pleasure the next 
 morning to invite my portress and her husband to be present 
 at the first performance of my writer. 
 
 As it was Sunday, and M. Auguste had no work to do, I 
 found him at breakfast. He held a modest sardine with 
 his thumb on a piece of bread, while in the other hand he 
 had a knife, the handle of which was fastened to his waist 
 by a lanyard. My invitation was graciously accepted, and 
 they came to my room to witness the aristocratic perform- 
 
162 MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 ance of a noToleman of the ago of Louis XV. The mason's 
 ■wife chose this question : " What is the emblem of fidelity ?" 
 The automaton replied by drawing a pretty little gray- 
 hound lying on a cushion. Madame Auguste, quite de- 
 lighted, begged me to make her a present of the drawing, 
 while her husband, having by this time finished his break- 
 fast, begged to see the work, for, as he naid, 
 
 " I undei-stand something about that sort- of thing, for I 
 have always to grease the vane on the church steeple, and 
 have even taken it down twice. Ah ! if I were to direct 
 my attention to mechanics, I have no doubt I should be 
 very successful." 
 
 Although of course he understood nothing of what he 
 saw, the worthy mason carefully examined the mechanical 
 arrangements ; then, as if yielding to an impulsive frank- 
 ness, he said in a kindly protecting tone, 
 
 " If I was not afraid of vexing you, I would make an ob- 
 servation." 
 
 " Pray do so, Monsieur Auguste, and be sure I shall treat 
 it as it deserves." 
 
 " Well, in your place, I would have made the mechanism 
 much more simple ; for then those who do not understand 
 that soi-t of thing would be able to do so more easity." 
 
 With some difficulty I maintained sufficient gravity to 
 reply: 
 
 " Your observation is very just. Monsieur Auguste ; I 
 had not thought of that : but be assured I shall now profit 
 by your suggestions, and speedily remove half the ma- 
 chinery ; there will be quite sufficient left." 
 
 " Oh, certainly," the mason said, believing in the sin- 
 cerity of my remarks, " there will be quite enough left 
 then." 
 
 At this moment the garden-bell rang, and M. Auguste, 
 ever attentive to his duties, ran to answer it, and as his wife 
 also took her departure, I was enabled to laugh at my 
 ease. 
 
 It is curious that an automaton which was visited by all 
 Paris, and gained me such reputation— that the designer, 
 which interested Louis Philippe and his family so greatly, 
 should at the outset only receive the stupid criticism of a 
 
I 
 
 PUBLIC CRITICISM. 1, 
 
 porter. Well, a man is no more a prophet in his own house 
 than in his own country. 
 
 It was more extraordinary, though, that I had eventually 
 to make an alteration in the automaton for the following 
 reasons : the public (I do not mean the educated portion) 
 generally understand nothing of the mechanical eifects by 
 which automata are moved ; but they are pleased to see 
 them, and often only value them by the multiplicity of 
 their parts. I had taken every care to render the mechanism 
 of my writer as perfect as possible, and had set great store 
 on making the clockwork noiseless. In doing this I 
 wished to imitate nature, whose complicated instruments 
 act almost imperceptibly. 
 
 Can it be credited that this very perfection, which I had 
 worked so hard to attain, was unfavourable to my automaton ? 
 On its first exhibition, I frequently heard persons who only 
 saw the outside, say : 
 
 " That writer is first-rate ; but the mechanism is pro- 
 bably very simple. It often requires such a trifle to produce 
 great results." 
 
 The idea then struck me of rendering the clockwork a 
 little less perfect, so that a whizzing sound should be heard, 
 something like cotton spinning. Then the worthy public 
 formed a very different estimate of my work, and the admir- 
 ation increased in a ratio to the intensity of the noise. Such 
 exclamations as these were continually heard : " How inge- 
 nious ! What complicated machinery ! What talent such 
 combinations must require !" 
 
 In order to obtain this result, I had rendered my auto- 
 maton less perfect ; and I was wrong. In this I followed 
 the example of certain actors who overdo their parts in 
 order to produce a greater effect. They raise a laugh, but 
 they infringe the rules of art, and are rarely ranked among 
 first-rate artists. Eventually I got over my susceptibility, 
 and my machine was restored to its first condition. 
 
 My writer thus finished, I could have ended my volun- 
 tary imprisonment if 1 pleased; but I wished to finish 
 another automaton, for which a residence in the country 
 would be requisite. Although this second automaton was 
 very complicated, it did not so fully occupy my time as the 
 
154 MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 first. It was a nightingale, which a rich merchant of St. 
 Petersburg had ordered, and I had agreed to produce a per- 
 fect imitation of the song and actions of this delightful wood 
 minstrel. 
 
 This undertaking offered some serious difficulties; for 
 though I had already made several birds, their singing was 
 quite arbitrary, and I had only consulted my own taste in 
 arranging it. The imitation of the nightingale's pipe was 
 much more delicate, for I had to copy notes and sounds 
 which were almost inimitable. 
 
 Fortunately, we were in the season when this skilful 
 songster utters his delicious accents ; hence, I could em- 
 ploy him as my teacher. I went constantly to the wood of 
 Eomainville, the skirt of which almost joined the street in 
 which I lived, and laying myself on a soft bed of moss in 
 the densest foliage, I challenged my master to give me 
 lessons. (The nightingale sings both by night and day, 
 and the slightest whistle, in tune or not, makes him strike 
 up directly.) 
 
 I wanted to imprint on ray memory the musical phrases 
 with which the bird composes its melodies. The following 
 are the most striking among them : tiou-tiou-tiou, ut-ut-ut-ut- 
 ut^ tchitchou, tchitchou, tcliit-tchit, rrrrrrrrrrtTOuit, &c. I had 
 to analyze these strange sounds, these numberless chirps, 
 these impossible rrriTouits, and recompose them by a 
 musical process. Now, here was the difficulty. I only 
 knew so much of music as a natural taste had taught me, 
 and my knowledge of harmony was hence a very feeble re- 
 source. I must add that, in order to imitate this flexibility 
 of throat, and reproduce these harmonious modulations, I 
 had a small copper tube, about the size and length of a 
 quill, in which a steel piston moving very freely, produced 
 the different sounds I required ; this tube represented in 
 some respects the nightingale's throat. 
 
 This instrument would have to work mechanically : 
 clockwork set in motion the bellows, opened or closed 
 a valve which produced the twittering, the modulation, 
 and the sliding notes, while it guided the piston accord- 
 ing to the different degrees of speed and depth I wanted 
 to reach. 
 
THE nightingale's LESSON. 155 
 
 I had also to impart motion to the bird : it must move its 
 beak in accordance with the sounds it produced, flap its 
 wings, leap from branch to branch, &c. But this part of 
 my task troubled me much less than the other,. as it was 
 purely mechanical. 
 
 I will not attempt to describe to the reader all the trials 
 and investigations I had to make ; suffice it to say that, 
 after repeated experiments, I created a system, half mu- 
 sical, half mechanical, which only required to be improved 
 by fresh studies. Provided with this instrument, I hurried 
 off to the wood of Eomainville, where I seated myself 
 under an oak, near which I had often heard a nightingale 
 sing, which I thought was the " star " among the vir- 
 tuosi. I wound up the clockwork, and it began play- 
 ing in the midst of profound silence ; but the last notes 
 had scarce died away ere a concert commenced from 
 various parts of the wood, which I was almost inclined 
 to regard as a general protest against my clumsy imita- 
 tion. 
 
 This collective lesson did not suit my purpose, for I 
 wished to compare and study, and could positively dis- 
 tinguish nothing. Fortunately for me, all the musicians 
 ceased, as if by word of command, and one of them began a 
 solo : it was doubtlessly the premier sujet, the Duprez of the 
 company — possibly the nightingale I have just mentioned. 
 This tenor indulged me with a succession of dulcet sounds 
 and accents, which I followed with all the attention of an 
 industrious pupil. 
 
 Thus I passed a portion of the night ; my professor was 
 indefatigable, and, for my part, I was not weary of listen- 
 ing. At length we were obliged to part., for, in spite of 
 the pleasure I felt, I began to grow chilly and sleepy. 
 However, my lesson had done me so much good, that the 
 next morning I began making important corrections in my 
 mechanism. After five or six more visits to the wood, I 
 attained the required result — the nightingale's song was 
 perfectly imitated. 
 
 After eighteen months' stay at Belleville, I at Ipngth 
 returned home to enjoy the company of my wife and chil- 
 dren ; in my absence my business had prospered, and I, 
 
156 l^IEMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 hy the manufacture of my two automata, had gained the 
 enormous sum of seven thousand francs. 
 
 Seven thousand francs by making filings, as my father 
 used to say. Unfortunately, that excellent man could not 
 enjoy the beginning of my success — I had lost him a shoi*t 
 time before the reverse of my fortune. With his love for 
 mechanical inventions, how proud he would have been of 
 my successes ! 
 
 Having thus regained a certain degree of comfort, I was 
 now able to enjoy some amusement, and visit my friends, 
 among them Antonio, who could not blame me for desert- 
 ing him so long. In our long conversations, my friend 
 never ceased to encourage me to realize the projects he had 
 suggested — I mean my theatrical schemes, of which he pre- 
 dicted the certain success. 
 
 AVhile not neglecting my work, I had recommenced my 
 conjuring exercises, and began to make the acquaintance 
 of several conjurors. I also wished to see those ingenious 
 personages who, not having a theatre to display their 
 talents in, visit the cafes. Such men as these are obliged 
 to employ an extraordinary degree of skill, for thc}^ have to 
 deal with people who are set upon detecting them. I met 
 several interesting specimens from whom 1 learned some- 
 thing ; but a slight adventure soon told me I must be on 
 my guard in the choice of my acquaintances. 
 
 A conjuror, whom I had formerly met at Koujol's, and to 
 "whom I had rendered a service, introduced me one day to a 
 
 person of the name of D . He was a young man of 
 
 prepossessing appearance, and very elegantly dressed, while 
 liis manners evidenced the thorough gentleman. 
 
 " My friend tells me, sir," he said, after the usual salu- 
 tations, " that you are in search of a person possessing a 
 certain degree of address. Although I have no wish to 
 compliment myself, I may be able to show many things 
 you do not know." 
 
 *' I accept your offer willingly," I replied, " but I must 
 tell you beforehand I am not a novice." 
 
 This introduction took place in my study, and we sat 
 down to a table on which refreshments were served. This 
 was a trap by which I intended to make my visitor more 
 
AN ELEGANT VISITOR. 157 
 
 communicative. I then took up a pack of cards, and 
 showed him my dexterity in sauter la coujWy and various. 
 other tricks. 
 
 I was watching D — — to observe the impression I pro- 
 duced on him, and after a few moments' careful following 
 of my hands, he gave his comrade a gentle wink, of which. 
 I did not understand the meaning. I stopped for a mo- 
 ment, and not wishing to ask a direct explanation, I opened 
 a bottle of Bordeaux, and filled his glass several times. 
 This scheme was successful; the wine loosened his tongue, 
 and he told me something that surprised me. 
 
 " I have a remark to make, M. Kobert-IIoudin," he said, 
 emptying his glass, and holding it out to be filled again ; 
 *' I thought I had come here to deal with what we call a 
 * pigeon ;' I perceive it is quite otherwise, and as I do not 
 wish to expose the tricks by which I earn my livelihood, 
 I will content myself with the pleasure of having formed 
 your acquaintance." 
 
 The technical terms seemed to me a startling contrast to 
 my visitor's elegant manners, still, as I did not wish to give 
 in yet, I said, in a tone of disappointment, " I hope, sir, 
 you will recall your decision, and not leave me till you have^ 
 shown me how you handle the cards. You can do this 
 without prejudice, I think ?" 
 
 To my great satisfaction he at length consented. 
 
 " Very well," he said, taking up a pack of cards ; " but 
 you will see our modes of ' working ' do not agree." 
 
 It would be difficult for me to give a name to what he 
 performed in my presence. It was not, properly speaking, 
 sleight of hand ; they were tricks and processes applied to 
 cards, and were so unexpected, that they must deceive 
 everybody. This manipulation was only an exhibition, 
 however, of certain principles I learnt at a later date. 
 
 Like singers who begin by being urged, and who, when 
 
 they have once started, cannot leave off, D , animated 
 
 both by the sincere praise I offered him, and the great 
 number of glasses of Bordeaux he had swallowed, said to 
 me, with that frankness common to drinkers, " And now, 
 sir, I will give you another hint. I am not a professor of 
 sleight of hand, but only perform a few tricks I show to 
 
158 MEMOIRS or BOBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 amateurs. These lessons, you can understand, would not 
 suffice for my livelihood, and I will tell you, then," ho 
 added, emptying his glass again, and holding it out to be 
 filled, as if he wished me to pay for his confidence, " I 
 visit in the evening houses where I have managed to gain 
 an introduction, and profit by some of the principles I have 
 just shown you." 
 
 " I suppose you give a performance ?" D smiled 
 
 slightly, and repeated the wink he had once before given 
 his comrade. 
 
 ** Performances !" he replied. ** Never ! or, rather, 
 I give them after my own fashion; I will explain that 
 to you presently, but I will first amuse you by telling 
 you how I manage to get a handsome prize for the lessons 
 I give my amateurs ; after that I will return to my per- 
 •^ormances. 
 
 " You can suppose, for reasons easy to -understand, that 
 I only give lessons to young men whose pockets I presume 
 are well lined. On beginning my explanations I tell my 
 pupil that I leave the price to him, and during the lesson 
 I perform an interlude which must heighten his gene- 
 rosity. I 
 
 " Drawing near my pigeon — pray pardon the word ^^i 
 
 *' I have already done so." 
 
 •' Ah, very good ; I beg your pardon. I say, taking one 
 of his buttons in my hand, ' Here is a mould piercing the 
 cloth, and you might lose it.' 
 
 " At the same time I throw a Louis on the table ; then 
 I examine his buttons, one after the other, and pretend to 
 draw a gold piece from each. As I only perform this trick 
 as a harmless pleasantry, I pick up my gold with the 
 greatest indifference. I even push my indifference so far 
 as to leave one or two by mistake on the table, but only for 
 a short time, of course. 
 
 " I continue my lesson, and, as I expected, my pupil 
 pays but slight attention to it, being folly engaged with 
 the reflections I have no skilfully suggested. Can he offer 
 five francs to a man who appears to have his pocket full of 
 gold ? Of course not ; the least he can do is to add one more 
 piece to those I had displayed, and that always happens. 
 
DISHONEST TRICKERY. 159 
 
 " Like a modern Bias, then, I carry all my fortune about 
 me ; I am sometimes tolerably rich, and then my pockets 
 are well lined. Often enough, too, I am reduced to a 
 dozen of these ' yellow boys,' but them I never touch, as 
 they are the instruments by which I procure others. Many 
 times I have gone without my dinner, though having this 
 small fortune in my pocket, because I laid it down as a rule 
 not to break into it." 
 
 " The performances you give in society," I said to my 
 narrator, in order to bring him back to that point, " are of 
 course more lucrative !" 
 
 " They are so, but prudence prevents me giving them so 
 often as I should like." 
 
 " I do not understand you." 
 
 " I will explain my meaning. When I am in society, 
 I am a young man of good family, and, like all young 
 men, play. The only difference is, I have my own way 
 of playing, which is not that of all the world, but it seems 
 it is not bad, because it often renders chances favourable. 
 You shall judge." 
 
 Here my narrator stopped to refresh himself, then, as if 
 doing the most legal or harmless thing in the world, he 
 showed me several tricks, or rather acts of swindling, which 
 he executed with so much grace, skill, and simplicity, that 
 it would be impossible to detect him. 
 
 In order to understand the effect these culpable con- 
 fessions produced upon me, my readers ought to know what 
 it is to love a science of which you seek to solve the mys- 
 teries. Far from feeling repugnance or even disgust at 
 this man with, whom justice would have one day an account 
 to settle, I admired, I was stunned ! The finesse and per- 
 fection of his tricks made me forget their blameworthy 
 application. 
 
 At length my Greek left me, and so soon as he was gone 
 the remembrance of his confessions sent the blood to my 
 cheeks. I was as ashamed of myself as if I had been his 
 accomplice. I even reproached myself severely for the 
 admiration I could not restrain, and the compliments it 
 extorted from me. In some measure to compound with my 
 conscience, I ordered my door to be closed against this 
 
160 MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 man ; but it was an unnecessary precaution — I never heard 
 of hira again. 
 
 Strangely enough, in consequence of my meeting with 
 
 D , and tlie revelations he had made me, I was enabled, 
 
 at a later period, to render a service to society by unmask- 
 ing a piece of swindling which the most skilful experts 
 could not detect. 
 
 In 1840, M. B , a magistrate belonging to the police- 
 office of the Seine, begged me to examine and verify one 
 hundred and fifty packs of cards, seized in the possession 
 of a man whose antecedents were far from being as un- 
 blemished as his cards. The latter, indeed, were perfectly 
 white, and this peculiarity had hitherto foiled the most 
 minute investigation. It was impossible for the most 
 practised eye to detect the least alteration or the slightest 
 mark, and they all seemed very respectable packs of 
 cards. 
 
 I consented to examine the cards, as I hoped to detect 
 a manoeuvre which must be clever as it was so carefully 
 concealed. I could only do so after my performance was 
 over, and so each night, before going to bed, I sat down 
 with a bright lamp, and remained at my task till sleep or 
 want of success routed me from my post. 
 
 Thus I spent nearly a fortnight, examining, both with 
 my eyes and a strong magnifying glass, the form and im- 
 perceptible varieties in the cards composing the one hun- 
 dred and fifty packs. I could detect nothing, and, weary 
 of the job, I began to agree in the opinion of the previous 
 experts. 
 
 " I am sure there is nothing the matter with thes© 
 cards," I said, one night, angrily, as I threw them across 
 the table. 
 
 Suddenly I fancied I noticed a pale spot on the glistening 
 back of these cards, and near one of the corners. I stepped 
 forward, and it disappeared, but, strangely enough, it re- 
 appeared as I fell back. 
 
 " What a magnificent dodge !" I exclaimed in my enthu- 
 siasm. " I have it : that is a distinguishing mark." 
 
 And following a certain principle which , D had ex- 
 plained to me, I assured myself that all the cards possessed 
 
MARKED CARDS. 
 
 161 
 
 a mark, which, according to its position, indicated the 
 value and colour. 
 
 For the last quarter of an hour I have been burning with 
 a desire to explain to my readers a most interesting process, 
 but I am restrained by the fear that this ingenious swind- 
 ling may facilitate false play. Still, it is an indubitable 
 truth, that " to avoid a danger, it must be known." Hence 
 if every player were initiated into the stratagems of the 
 «ard-swindlers, the latter would find it impossible to employ 
 them. 
 
 I am therefore inclined to make the communication I 
 have stated, that a single mark placed in a certain part of a 
 card is sufficient to make it known. To explain this, I 
 must employ a diagram. 
 
 
 Diagram 1. 
 
 ^ 
 
 ^ 
 
 Queen. 
 Knave. 
 Ten. 
 
 i^ S cc 
 
163 MEMOIRS OF llOBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 SupjX)se a card divided into eight parts vertically, and 
 four horizontally, as in diagram 1 ; the former will indicate 
 the value of the cards, the latter the suit. The mark is 
 placed at the point where the two lines intersect. Such is 
 the process : practice does the rest. 
 
 As for the process employed in impressing tlie mysterious 
 mark I have mentioned, I may be excused from stating it, 
 as my object is to expose swindling, and not show the 
 way to do it. Suffice it to say that, looked at closely, this 
 point is lost in the white of the card ; but, at a distance, the 
 light renders the card brilliant, while the mark alone re- 
 mains dull. 
 
 At the first blush it will appear, perhaps, rather difficult 
 to find out the division to which the isolated dot on the 
 back of the card belongs. Still, by a little attention, it 
 may be accurately detected by a practised eye. Thus, on 
 my diagram, the dot indicates the Queen of Diamonds. 
 
 It must be remembered that a Greek using these cards, 
 stakes, I will not say his honour, but his liberty, against 
 fortune, and that he has carefully studied an art on which 
 his livelihood depends. 
 
 After the explanation I have given, I can easily imagine 
 my reader forming an heroic determination. 
 
 " Since these things take place," he says to himself, " I 
 will only play with chequered cards, and so I shall be 
 safe." 
 
 Unfortunately, chequered cards are better adapted for 
 swindling purposes than the others, and to prove it, I must 
 employ another diagram. Suppose the chequer to be 
 formed of dots, or any other figures regularly arranged, as 
 is usually the case with fancy-backed cards : 
 
THE WAY TO WIN. 
 Diagram 2. 
 
 163 
 
 • • • • 
 
 • • • 
 
 • • • • 
 
 • • • 
 
 • • • • • 
 
 • • • 
 
 • • • • 
 
 The first dot, starting from the left-hand top of the card, as 
 in the previous diagram, will represent hearts ; the second, 
 downwards, diamonds; the third clubs; and the fourth 
 spades. If, now, another small dot is placed by the side 
 of one of these chequers, it will indicate the value of the 
 card. This dot must be placed in one of the divisions 
 marked in diagram 3. The topmost point in- Diagram 3. 
 dicates an ace ; the next, to the right, a king ; , 
 
 the third, a queen ; the fourth, a knave ; and 
 so on. Of course, a single dot, as in diagram 
 2, when it is placed by the third point or 
 colour, indicates the eight of clubs. • 
 
 There are many other arrangements, but they are mOre 
 difficult to explain than to understand. Thus I have had 
 chequered cards given me to inspect which had had no 
 mark at all on them, but the pattern was more or less 
 
 M 2 
 
164 MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOUDTN. 
 
 altered by the way in which the cards were shaped, and 
 this simple peculiarity indicated them all. 
 
 There are also the cards on the edge of which the Greek, 
 when playing, makes a mark with his thumb-nail, which 
 he can detect as they pass through his hands. If he is 
 playing ecarte, the kings are thus marked, and when these 
 pass through his fingers, he can, by a familiar trick, leave 
 them on the pack, and deal the next card. This substitu- 
 tion can be done so cleverly that it is impossible to detect 
 it. I have also met persons of such practised sight that, 
 after playing two or three games with a pack, they could 
 recognize every card. 
 
 Ketuming to the prepared cards, it may be asked how it 
 is possible to change the cards, for in all society where 
 play goes on, the cards are only taken out of the paper just 
 before beginning. 
 
 Well ! this is simple enough. The Greek finds out at 
 what shop these houses buy their cards : at the first he will 
 make some small purchases, so that he may be regarded as 
 a regular customer : then, on one fine day, he says that 
 a friend has commissioned him to buy a dozen packets of 
 packs. The next day these are brought back under the 
 pretext that they are not of the colour required, and as the 
 packets are still sealed, the tradesman, full of confidence, 
 changes them for others. 
 
 But the Greek has spent the night in undoing the bands 
 and sealing them up again by a process known to con- 
 jurors ; the cards have been all marked and properly ar- 
 ranged, and as the tradesman has them now in his shop, 
 the trick is accomplished. Before long they will reach the 
 house where they are wanted. 
 
 All these swindling arts are very shocking, but there is 
 another even more so in the shape of " imperceptible tele- 
 graphy." AVithout the slightest appearance of collusion, a 
 Greek can tell his partner every card his opponent holds in 
 his hand by a system^ similar to that of my " second sight." 
 
 I could descnbe many other tricks, but I will stop here. 
 I believe I have said enough about card-sharpers and their 
 swindling to induce a person never to sit down but with 
 persons whose honour is unimpeachable. 
 
V 
 
 PHILIPPE TALON. 165 
 
 CHAPTER KJiL 
 
 Tlie Inventive Genius of a Sugar-baker— Philippe the Magician — His 
 Comic Adventures — Description of his Performance — Exposition of 
 1844 — The King and Koyal Family visit my Automata. 
 
 The long looked-for change in my fortunes had at length 
 arrived ; my automata had gained me a certain degree of 
 reputation, and I was making arrangements to commence 
 my performances. Before describing these, I must devote a 
 few pages, however, to some account of my immediate prede- 
 cessor in the conjuring art, whose success in Paris at that 
 period was most brilliant : I mean Philippe, the renowned 
 magician, sorcerer, sleight-of-hand performer, and conjuror. 
 
 Philippe Talon was born at Alais, near iSimes ; after 
 having carried on his sweet trade of confectioner for some 
 time in Paris, his want of success compelled him to expa- 
 triate himself. London, that pai/s de Cocagne, the perspec- 
 tive El Dorado, was close at hand ; so our tradesman pro- 
 ceeded thither, and soon set up again in trade in ihe capital 
 of the United Kingdom. The French confectioner had 
 fair chance of success, for in addition to the English liking 
 for sweet-stuff, French confectionary has ever enjoyed a 
 reputation in that country, only comparable with that 
 which real English blacking has so long held in France. 
 Still, despite these advantages, it seems that fresh diffi- 
 culties arose ; the fogs of the Thames, or, as some say, 
 dangerous speculations, melted the fragile wares ; the com- 
 fitures suffered a decided discomfiture. 
 
 Talon packed up a second time, and went to Aberdeen, 
 to ask shelter from the Scotch mountaineers, to whom he 
 offered in exchange his seductive cates. Unfortunately, 
 the Scotch of Aberdeen, differing greatly from the moun- 
 taineers in La Dame Blanche, wear neither silk stockings 
 nor patent leather shoes, and consume very few jujubes and 
 tarts. Thus, the new shop would soon have undergone 
 
166 MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 the fate of the other two, had not Talon's inventive genius 
 found an issue from this precarious position. 
 
 The confectioner rightly thought that, in order to sell 
 wares, they must be known ; and in order for them to be 
 known, they must be made known. Eelying on this judi- 
 cious reasoning, Talon soon compelled the Aberdonians 
 to eat his sugar-plums, and, better still, to pay for them. 
 
 At this period, there was a company of actors at Aber- 
 deen much in the same condition as Talon's " goodies ;" 
 they were neglected, and no one cared to try them. In 
 vain had the manager prepared a pantomime full of tricks 
 and blue-lire, the public remained deaf to his repeated 
 appeals. 
 
 One fine day. Talon called on the Scotch impresario : 
 " I have a proposal to make to you, sir," he said, without 
 further preface, " which, if accepted, will fill your theatre, 
 I am convinced." 
 
 "Pray explain yourself, sir," the manager said, nib- 
 bling at the bait, but putting little faith in a promise 
 which he had good reasons for believing difficult of realiza- 
 tion. 
 
 " It is simply," Talon continued, "to join to the attrac- 
 tion of your performance a lottery, for which I will pay all 
 the cost. This shall be the arrangement : each spectator, 
 on entering, must pay, in addition, the sum of sixpence, 
 giving him a -claim — 
 
 " 1 . To a paper of mixed sugar-plums. 
 
 "2. To a lottery. ticket, by which he may gain the first 
 prize, of the value of five pounds." 
 
 Talon also jiromised a new performance, the secret of 
 which he confided to the manager under the seal of dis- 
 cretion. 
 
 These proposals being accepted, the bargain was soon 
 completed, and the intelligent Talon had not deceived him- 
 self. The public, attracted by the bonbons, the pantomime, 
 and the promised surprise, filled the theatre. 
 
 The lottery was drawn ; the prize made one person 
 happy, and the other twelve or fifteen hundred spectators, 
 provided with their papers of sugar-plums, consoled their 
 disappointment by exchanging their "goodies." Under 
 
A "filler" of the state. 167 
 
 sucli favourable circumstances the pantomime was found 
 "Charming. 
 
 Still, this piece was drawing to its close, and the pro- 
 mised surprise had not yet come oif, when suddenly the 
 -dancers in the ballet arranged themselves in a circle, a 
 sharp cry was heard, and a magnificent Punch bounded on 
 to the stage. It was Talon, disguised by two cotton humps 
 and the traditional costume. 
 
 Our new artist performed Punch's eccentric dance with 
 rare talent, and was heartily applauded. To thank the 
 audience for their kind reception, the dancer tried to make 
 a bow, but managed it so clumsily that he fell over on his 
 side and could not rise again. The performers hastened to 
 pick the wounded man up ; he spoke in a faint voice, and 
 complained of a broken rib. He earnestly asked for a box 
 of Morrison's pills, and a servant hastened to bring him 
 pills of an enormous size. 
 
 "The public, who till then had pitied poor Punch's pain, 
 and remained silent sympathizers, now began to scent a 
 jest. First they smiled, and then they laughed when the 
 patient, taking one of the pills, pretended to swallow it. 
 Half a dozen having followed the same road, Punch found 
 liimself perfectly recovered, so, making a polite bow, he 
 retired amidst shouts of laughter. 
 
 Philippe had given his first performance — the con- 
 fectioner had exchanged the barley-sugar stick for the 
 magician's wand. 
 
 This burlesque scene met with extraordinary success, 
 and the receipts swelled day by day, until the confectioner 
 had disposed of all his wares. Then he set off to give a 
 specimen of his new talent in other towns. 
 
 I do not know whence the new magician acquired his 
 •art, but it is probable (historical gaps are always filled up 
 with probabilities) that Talon had learned conjuring, as 
 he had Punch's dance, to amuse his friends. One thing is 
 oertain, the performance he oifered the worthy Aberdonians 
 was not first rate, and it was not till he left that town 
 that he made the great improvement to which he owed his 
 future reputation. 
 
 Henceforth, laying aside his comfitures and Punch's garb 
 
168 MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 and squeak, I'hilippo (the name the conjuror assumed) 
 traversed England, giving at first very modest perform- 
 ances. Then, his repertory becoming gradually increased 
 by a certain number of tricks he picked up from conjuroi's 
 of the day, he attacked the large tovv^ns, and proceeded to 
 Glasgow, where he built a wooden theatre, in which to give 
 his performances. 
 
 While the magic temple was building, Philippe noticed 
 among the bricklayers' lads a young fellow who seemed to 
 have remarkable intelligence, and he eventually engaged 
 him to appear on the stage as assistant magician. Mac- 
 alister (as his assistant was called) had a natural genius 
 for tricks and models ; he required no apprenticeship in 
 this mysterious art, and, indeed, soon invented some tricks 
 which attracted his master's attention. 
 
 From this moment, either by Macalister's help, or for 
 some other reason, success attended Philippe everywhere, 
 and he began acting in theatres. After a lengthened tour 
 through England he crossed over to Dublin, where h& 
 acquired two new tricks, which were the foundation of his 
 future reputation. 
 
 Three Chinese, who had come to France to perform some 
 very startling tricks, attempted some performances at Paris, 
 which, owing to their ill success, caused a quarrel amon^ 
 the Celestials. In France, as well as in China, " horses 
 fight when there is no hay in the manger," and though oui' 
 jugglers did not have recourse to such extremities, they 
 separated. One of them proceeded to Dublin, where he 
 taught Philippe the "gold-fish" trick, as well as the 
 "rings." On learning the first of these tricks, Philippe 
 was in great trouble about performing it, for he wanted a 
 robe. He could not assume a Chinese costume, as his face 
 had none of the distinguishing features of a mandarin, nor 
 could he dream of a dressing-gown, for, however rich it 
 might have been, the public would not have endured such 
 a slight. Hence Philippe extricated himself from the 
 difficulty by assuming the attire of a magician. It was a 
 daring innovation, for, till that period, no conjuror had 
 ventured to take on himself the responsibility of such a 
 costume. 
 
THE PALAIS DES PRESTIGES. 169 
 
 Once possessed of these two tricks, Philippe formed the 
 project of returning to his ungrateful country ; he there- 
 fore came to Paris in the summer of 1841, and performed 
 at the Salle Montesquieu. The gold-fish and ring tricks, a 
 brilliant costume, a magnificent pointed cap, and a com- 
 fortably arranged room, soon attracted large audiences, 
 among whom was the manager of a Vienna theatre. 
 Delighted with the performance, the latter on the spot 
 ofi"ered the conjuror an engagement at half profits, wliich 
 Philippe willingly accepted. As the Salle Montesquieu was 
 used for public balls during the winter, this engagement 
 also allowed him time to have a theatre constructed in 
 readiness for his return to Paris. 
 
 The opening of the room Bonne-Nouvelle created a 
 sensation in Paris when Philippe came back from his. 
 Austrian tour, and crowds went to see the gold-fish trick, 
 which the performances in the Salle Montesquieu had 
 made known. 
 
 My reader will have the kindness to accompany me to 
 the Palais des Prestiges (as the new temple of magic was 
 christened), and we will attend one of the magician's 
 performances. 
 
 On reaching the end of the first floor passage in the 
 Bonne-Nouvelle Bazaar, you passed through a doorway, 
 and were quite surprised to find j^ourself in a room ex- 
 cellently adapted for this style of performance. There 
 were stalls, pit, gallery, and boxes ; the decorations were 
 most elegant, and, above all, there was plenty of room to 
 stretch your legs. 
 
 An orchestra, composed of six musicians of doubtful 
 talent, executed a symphony to the accompaniment of the 
 me'lophone, a species of accordion recently invented by a 
 man of the name of Leclerc, who undertook the musical 
 arrangements of the Palace. 
 
 The curtain rises. 
 
 To the great surprise of the spectators the stage is in 
 perfect darkness. 
 
 A gentleman dressed in black emerges from a side door 
 and walks towards us. It is Philippe : I recognize him by 
 the Proven9al twang of his accent. All the other specta- 
 
170 MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 tors take him for the manager, and fear tliey are abont to 
 hear some painful intelligence, as this gentleman holds a 
 pistol in his hand. 
 
 Their uncertainty is, however, soon dispelled, for 
 Philippe introduces himself. He states that he has been 
 delayed in his preparations, but, in order to save time, he 
 will light the innumerable candles on his stage by firing a 
 pistol. Although a fire-arm is not required for the experi- 
 ment, and is only intended to throw powder in the specta- 
 tor's eyes, the candles are suddenly lighted at the sound of 
 the detonation. 
 
 The audience applaud vociferously, and deservedly so, 
 for this trick is remarkably striking. However much it 
 may be applauded, the time it requires for preparation, and 
 the mortal terror it occasions the performer, are beyond 
 recompense. 
 
 In fact, like all experiments in which stitic electricity 
 plays the chief part, this magical inflammation is not 
 infallible. When this misfortune occurs, the position of 
 the operator is the more embarrassing, as the phenomenon 
 has been announced as the result of magic. Now, a magi- 
 cian must be omnipotent, or, iv" he be not so, he must avoid 
 at all risks any failure which may lower his prestige in the 
 eyes of the audience. 
 
 The stage once lighted, Philippe commenced his per- 
 formance. The first part, composed of very average tricks, 
 was relieved by the manoeuvres of some curious automata. 
 For instance : 
 
 The Cossack, which should have have been called the 
 Gh^imacer, so quaint were the contortions in which it in- 
 dulged. This Cossack was also a very clever juggler,^ for 
 it passed into its pocket with considerable skill various 
 articles of jewellery its master had borrowed from the 
 spectators. 
 
 The magic peacock, which uttered its unmelodious 
 screech, expanded its gorgeous plumes, fed from its mas- 
 ter's hand, &c. 
 
 And lastly, a Harlequin, like the one I repaired for 
 Torrini. 
 
 After the first part of the performance, the curtain fell 
 
THE RING TRICK. 171 
 
 to enable preparations to be made for a scene called in the 
 bills " A festival at a Palace in Nankin." This was an 
 attractive title for those who dealt in that description of 
 cloth, but was only chosen to call to the spectator's 
 memory the Chinese trick, which would end the per- 
 formance. 
 
 When the curtain rose again the stage was entirely 
 transformed. The tablecloths had been replaced by bro- 
 cades glistening with gold and precious stones (at least 
 they looked so at a distance) ; the candles, although so 
 numerous before, had been multiplied, and gave the stage 
 the appe^ance of a fiery furnace, the veritable abode of an 
 ally of the Evil One. 
 
 The magician made his appearance in a costume which, 
 in the public admiration, it must have exhausted the 
 riches of Golco. ida to buy, and the Festival of Nankin com- 
 menced with ^he very clever trick derived from the 
 Chinese. 
 
 Philippe too^ up several rings about eight inches in dia- 
 meter, and intertwined them into chains and knots with the 
 greatest possible ease. Then suddenly, when it seemed im- 
 possible for him to unravel Lis handiwork, he blew upon 
 them, and the rings fell sept^rately at his feet. This trick 
 produced a charming illusion. 
 
 The one that succeeded it, and which I never saw per- 
 formed by any one else, was quite equal to the preceding 
 one in interest. 
 
 Macalister, the Scotch bricklayer (who on the stage was 
 a negro of the name of Domingo), brought in on a table two 
 sugar-loaves, still covered with that horrible paper which the 
 honest grocer sells at the price of colonial wares. Philippe 
 borrowed a dozen handkerchiefs (not from accomplices), 
 and after placing them in a blunderbuss, he fired at one of 
 the sugar-loaves chosen by the audience. He then broke it 
 asunder with an axe, and all the handkerchiefs were found 
 in it. 
 
 Next came Fortunatus's hat. Philippe, after producing 
 from this hat, which he had borrowed from a spectator, an 
 innumerable number of objects, at last pulled out enough 
 feathers to make a bed. The most amusing part of this 
 
172 MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 trick consisted in the conjuror making a lad kneel down, 
 who was completely buried in this avalanche of feathers. 
 
 Another striking trick was the one called " The Kitchen 
 of Parafaragaramus." At Philippe's request two schoolboys 
 came on the stage, whom he dressed, one as scullion, 
 the other as professed cook. Thus metamorphosed, the 
 two young cordons bleus underwent all sorts of pleasant- 
 ries and mystifications. (This was a trick of Castelli's 
 school.) 
 
 The conjuror then proceeded to perform the trick : for 
 this purpose he suspended from a tripod an enormous copper 
 caldron full of water, and ordered the two lads t(5 put in it 
 dead pigeons, an assortment of vegetables, and plenty of 
 seasoning. Then he lit some spirits of wine under the cal- 
 dron, and pronounced some magical incantations. At his 
 voice, the pigeons, returning to life, flew out of the caldron ; 
 while the water, vegetables, and seasoning had entirely dis- 
 appeared. 
 
 Philippe usually ended the evening's performance with 
 the famous Chinese trick, to which he had given the pom- 
 j)ous name of " Neptune's Basins, or the Gold-Fish." 
 
 The magician, clothed in his brilliant costume, mounted 
 on a sort of low table, which isolated him from the stage. 
 After a few manoeuvres to prove he had nothing about him, 
 he threw a shawl at his feet, and, on lifting it up, he dis- 
 played a glass basin filled with water, in Avhich gold-fish 
 swam about. This was thrice repeated, with the same result ; 
 but, in his desire to improve on his brethren of the Celestial 
 Empire, the French conjiiror had added a variation to their 
 trick, which gave an amu.sing termination to the perform- 
 ance. Throwing the shawl on the ground for the fourth 
 time, several animals, such as rabbits, ducks, chickens, &c., 
 emerged from it. This trick was performed, if not grace- 
 fully, at least in a way to excite the lively admiration of 
 the spectators. 
 
 Generally, Philippe was very amusing in his entertain- 
 ment. His experiments were performed with a good deal 
 of conscientiousness, skill, and dash, and I have no hesitation 
 in sajnng that the conjuror of the Bonne-Nouvelle Bazaar 
 might then be considered one of the best of the day. Philippe 
 
MY NEW WIFE* 173 
 
 quitted Paris the following year, and has since performed 
 entirely in foreign countries, or the provinces. 
 
 Philippe's success would not have failed to rekindle my 
 desire to realize my theatrical schemes, had not, at this 
 period, a misfortune hurled me into a state of profound 
 wretchedness. I lost my wife. 
 
 Left with three young children, I was obliged to under- 
 take their charge, although so unskilled in household cares. 
 Thus, at the end of five years, robbed by some, deceived by 
 others, I had almost lost all that m}^ labour had produced 
 me, and was going to ruin. 
 
 Forced by my intolerable position, I determined on re- 
 constituting my home, and I married again. I shall have 
 so many occasions of speaking of my new wife, that I shall 
 refrain at present from praising her according to her deserts ; 
 besides, I am not sorry to abridge these domestic details, 
 which, though personally important to me, only possess a 
 very slight interest in my story. 
 
 The Exhibition of 1844 was about to open, so I asked and 
 obtained leave to exhibit some specimens of my skill. The 
 site granted me, opposite the door of honour, was undoubt- 
 edly one of the best in the hall, and I erected a circular 
 stand, on which I placed a specimen of all the mechanical 
 pieces I had as yet made. Among these my Writer took the 
 
 first place, which M. G had been kind enough to lend 
 
 me for the occasion. I may say I enjoyed all the honour 
 of the exhibition, for my productions were constantly sur- 
 rounded by a crowd of spectators, who were all the more 
 eager as the performance was gratis. 
 
 Louis Philippe paid daily visits to the Palace of Industry, 
 and as my automata had been pointed out as deserving his 
 attention, he evinced a wish to see them, and gave me 
 twenty hours' notice of his visit. I thus had time enough 
 to make all my arrangements. The king arrived, holding the 
 Comte de Paris by the hand, and I stood on his left hand to 
 explain my various articles. The Duchess of Orleans was 
 by my side, and the other members of the royal family formed 
 a circle round his majesty, while the crowd, kept back by 
 the keepers of the palace and the police agents, left an open 
 space round my exhibition. 
 
174 MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 The king was in a charming humour, and seemed to take 
 a pleasure in all 1 showed him. He frequently asked me 
 questions, and missed no occasion to show his excellent 
 judgment. At the end of the seance, the party stoj^ped be- 
 fore my Writer. This automaton, it must be borne in mind, 
 wrote or drew according to the question asked. The king 
 made the following inquiry : •' How many inhabitants does 
 Paris contain ?" The Writer raised its left hand as if to in- 
 dicate that it required a sheet of paper, on receiving which, it 
 wrote very distinctly, "Paris contains 998,9(54 inhabitants." 
 
 The paper passed from the king's hand into those of the 
 royal family, and all admired the beauty of the wiiting ; 
 but I saw that Louis Philippe had a critique to offer, for his 
 smile proved that plainly enough. Hence I was not sur- 
 prised when, pointing to the paper which had come back to 
 him, he said : 
 
 " Monsieur Eobert-Houdin, you did not, perhaps, recol- 
 lect that this number will not agree with the new census, 
 which is almost completed ?" 
 
 Contrary to my expectations, I felt quite at ease with my 
 illustrious visitors. 
 
 " Sire !" I replied, with sufficient assurance for a man 
 not much accustomed to the societj'- of crowned heads, " I 
 hope at that period my automaton will be intelligent enough 
 to make any necessary corrections." 
 
 ITie king appeared satisfied with this reply, and I took 
 advantage of his good humour to mention that my AVriter 
 was also a poet, and explained that, if he would deign to 
 offer it an unfinished quatrain, the automaton would fill up 
 the rhyme in the fourth line. The king chose the follow- 
 ing :— 
 
 Lorsque dans le malheur, accable de souffrance, 
 Abandonne de tous, I'liomme va succomber. 
 Quel est I'ange divin qui vient le consoler ? 
 C'est 
 
 VEsperance, the Writer added to the fourth line. 
 
 " That is really charming," the king said to me. " But, 
 Monsieur Kobert-Houdin," he added, in a confidential tone, 
 " you must have given your writer instructions in the poetic 
 art?" 
 
AN OMEN. 175 
 
 *' Yes, sire, as far as my weak powers permitted." 
 
 " Then my compliment is merited more by the master 
 than the pupil." 
 
 I bowed to thank the king as much for his compliment as 
 for the delicate manner in which it was conveyed. 
 
 "Now then, Monsieur Eobert-Houdin," Louis Philippe 
 continued, " I see by the notice attached to this automaton 
 that it is a draughtsman, in addition to its merits as a writer 
 and poet. If it be so, come," he said, addressing the Comte 
 de Paris, " choose your own subject for a drawing." 
 
 Thinking to cause the prince an agreeable surprise, I had 
 recourse to palmistry to influence his decision, and he con- 
 sequently selected a crown. The automaton began drawing 
 the outline of this regal ornament with great skill, and every 
 one followed its movements with interest, when, to my great 
 disappointment, the point of the draughtsman's pencil broke, 
 and the crown could not be finished. I was going to re- 
 commence the experiment, when the king declined with 
 thanks. 
 
 " As you have learned to draw," he said to the Comte de 
 Paris, " you can finish this for yourself." 
 
 This performance, besides being the prelude of the kindly 
 interest the Orleans family afterwards displayed towards 
 me, probably exerted some influence on the decision of the 
 jury, which granted me a silver medal. 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 My proposed Eeforms — I build a Theatre in the Palais Eoyal — For- 
 malities — General Eehearsal— Singular effect of my Performance — 
 The Largest and Smallest Theatre in Paris — Tribulation— My first 
 Performance— Panic— Discouragement— A Fallible Prophet— Eeco- 
 very — Success. 
 
 It may seem strange that I thus pass from my mechanical 
 labours to my studies in sleight of hand ; but if my readers 
 will bear in mind that these two sciences were to unite in 
 producing my success, it will easily be understood that I 
 I felt an equal degree of affection for them, and thai after 
 
17G MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 mentioning one I must allude to the other. The Exhibition 
 did not drive from my thoughts my theatrical projects. 
 
 The instiTimcnts intended for my future performances 
 were on the point of completion, for I had never stopped 
 working at them. I was hence enabled to commence ope- 
 rations as soon as an opportunity offered. In the mean time, 
 I determined on the changes I intended to introduce into 
 the usual routine of conjuring performances. 
 
 Kemembering Torrini's principles, I intended to have an 
 elegant and simple stage, unencumbered by all the para- 
 phernalia of the ordinary conjuror, which looks more like a 
 toyshop than a serious performance. I would have none of 
 those enormous metal shades usually placed over objects 
 that are to disappear, and whose secret duties cannot escape 
 the notice of the simplest spectator. Apparatus of trans- 
 parent or opaque glass, according to circumstances, would 
 sufiSce for all my operations. In the performance of my 
 tricks I also intended to abolish those double-bottomed 
 boxes of which some conjurors made such an abuse, as well 
 as all instruments designed to make up for the performer's 
 want of skill. Ileal sleight of hand must not be the tin- 
 man's work but the artist's, and people do not visit the latter 
 to see instnimentfi perform. 
 
 Of course, after the abuse I have showered upon the use 
 of accomplices, I quite did away with them. I have always 
 regarded such trickery as unworthy a real artist, as it raises 
 doubts as to his skill. Besides, having frequently acted as 
 an accomplice, I remember the unfavourable impression this 
 employment had left upon me as to the talent of my partner. 
 
 Jets of gas, covered by opaque globes, were to be sub- 
 stituted on my stage for the thousands of candles, whose 
 brilliancy is only intended to dazzle the spectator, and thus 
 injure the effect of the experiments. 
 
 Among the reforms I intended to introduce on the stage, 
 the most important was the abolition of those long table- 
 cloths reaching to the ground, beneath which an assistant is 
 always suspected, and generally, with some show of reason. 
 For these immense chests of deception I substituted consoles 
 of gilt wood after the style of Louis XV. 
 
 Of course, I abstained from any eccentric costume, and I 
 
MY PREPARATIONS. 177 
 
 never thought of making any change in the attire civilized 
 society has agreed to accept for evening dress, for I was al- 
 ways of opinion that bizarre accoutrements, far from giving 
 the wearer any consideration, on the contrary, cast disfavour 
 upon him. 
 
 I had also traced out for my performances a line of con- 
 duct from which I never diverged ; that was to make no 
 puns or play upon words, and never to permit myself to be 
 guilty of a mystification, even were I sure of gaining the 
 greatest success. 
 
 Finally, I wished to offer new experiments divested of all 
 charlatanism, and possessing no other resources than those 
 offered by skilful manipulation, and the influence of illusions. 
 
 This was, it will be seen, a complete regeneration in the 
 art of conjuring ; my only fear was whether the public would 
 accept these important reforms and such elegant simplicity. 
 It is true, Antonio, the usual confidant of my plans and 
 thoughts, strongly encouraged me. 
 
 " Don't be alarmed about your success," he said ; *' you 
 have precedents to prove the good taste of the public, and 
 their willingness to accept reforms based on reason. Ee- 
 member Talma appearing suddenly at the Theatre-Fran^ais 
 clothed in the simple antique toga, at a time when tragedies 
 were performed in silk coats, powdered perukes, and red 
 heels." 
 
 I accepted the reasoning, though I did not recognize the 
 justice of the comparison. In fact. Talma could impose 
 his taste on the public by the authority of his talent and 
 reputation, while I, who as yet held no brevet rank in the 
 army of conjurors, trembled to see my innovations badly 
 received. 
 
 We had now reached the month of December, 1844, and, 
 having nothing further to detain me, I decided on striking 
 the grand blow — that is to say, I went out one morning 
 determined on finding a site for my theatre. I passed the 
 whole day in attempting to find a spot combining advan- 
 tage of situation, chance of receipts, and many other 
 benefits. I stopped through preference at the best spots 
 and before the handsomest houses, but found nothing that 
 exactly suited me. 
 
 N 
 
178 MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 Wearied with searching, I singularly lowered my pre- 
 tensions and wants. Here I found an enormous price 
 asked for a room that only in part suited me ; there, pro- 
 prietors who would not, for any consideration, have per- 
 formances in their houses ; in short, obstacles and impos- 
 sibilities on all sides. 
 
 llius I ran about Paris for a fortnight, passing from the 
 largest to the smallest houses in turn, and ended by con- 
 vincing myself that fate was adverse to my plans. Antonio 
 relieved me from my difficulty, for that worthy friend, who 
 aided me in the search, came to tell me he had found a 
 room in the Palais Eoyal which could be easily converted 
 into a theatre. I went straight to 104 in the Galerie de 
 Valois, where I found, in fact, all the conditions I had 
 sought elsewhere combined. 
 
 The proprietor of this house had been dreaming for a 
 long time in vain about a benevolent tenant, who, while 
 paying an exorbitant price for his room, would come in 
 without expecting any repairs to be done. I was, there- 
 fore, most welcome, when I not only agreed to pay the 
 rent asked, but endured passively every sort of imposition. 
 Indeed, I would have given much more, so afraid as I was 
 lest this desirable house should slip from me. 
 
 When the bargain was concluded, I applied to an archi- 
 tect, who soon brought me the plan of a charming room, 
 which I jumped at. A few days later he set to work, 
 partitions were knocked down, the ground cleared, and the 
 carpenters began erecting my theatre, which was to con- 
 tain from 180 to 200 persons. Though small, this room 
 was all I wanted for my style of performance ; for sup- 
 posing, according to my famous calculations, that it was 
 constantly full, it would be an excellent affair for me. 
 
 Antonio, ever filled with zeal for my interests, paid 
 constant visits to my workmen, and stimulated their 
 activity ; but one day my friend was struck by a sudden 
 idea. 
 
 " By-the-way," he said, "have you thought of asking 
 permission from the Prefect of Police to construct your 
 theatre?" 
 
 '* Not yet," I replied, quietly. " It cannot be refused.] 
 
THE PREFECT OF POLICE. 179 
 
 -me, as this construction makes no change in the architec- 
 tural arrangements of the house." 
 
 " That is possible," Antonio added, " but in your place 
 I would take this step immediately, that no difficulty may 
 >occur when it is too late." 
 
 I followed his advice, and we went together to M. X 's 
 
 office, who then had the direction of theatrical affairs. 
 After an hour waiting, we were introduced to the head 
 of the office, who, being at the moment engaged in some 
 interesting reading, did not seem even to notice our 
 
 presence. In ten minutes, however, M. X laid down 
 
 his book, opened and shut a few drawers, called his clerk, 
 gave orders, lifted his spectacles, and made us a sign that 
 he was ready to hear a sentence which I had already com- 
 menced twice or thrice without being able to end it. This 
 impertinent coolness made my blood boil ; still I said, as 
 politely as my vexation would allow me, 
 
 " I have come, sir, to ask your permission to open a 
 room for performances of magic and sleight of hand in the 
 Palais Eoyal." 
 
 " Sir," the head of the office replied, very drily, "if you 
 have chosen the Palais Royal for your performance, I can 
 tell you you will not obtain permission." 
 
 " Why so, sir?" I said, in consternation. 
 
 " Because a ministerial decree forbids any new establish- 
 ment being opened there." 
 
 "_ But pray consider, sir, that, not being aware of this 
 decision, I have taken a room on a long lease, and my 
 theatre is at this moment being built. The refusal of this 
 permission will be my ruin. What can I do now ?" 
 
 " That is not my business," the bureaucrat replied, dis- 
 dainfully ; " I am not a theatrical agent." 
 
 With these words M. X , after the method employed 
 
 by solicitors and physicians to announce that a consultation 
 is over, rose, led us to the door, and, himself opening it, 
 showed us clearly what we had to do. Antonio and myself, 
 equally in despair, remained for more than an hour at the 
 door of the Prefecture, vainly taxing our brains how to 
 escape from this difficulty. With all our reasoning, we 
 always arrived at the mournful conclusion that we could 
 
 N 2 
 
180 MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOUDI^f. 
 
 do no less than stop the building, and compound with 
 
 B to take the lease off my hands. It was my ruin, 
 
 Antonio understood as well as I, and he could offer me na 
 consolation. 
 
 " But, stay," he said, suddenly, striking his forehead, 
 *' I have an idea. Tell me, during the late exhibition, 
 did you not sell a 'mysterious clock' to M. Benjamin 
 Delessert, a banker ?" 
 
 " Well, suppose I did, what has that to do with " 
 
 " What ! do you not understand me ? M. Delessert is 
 brother of the Prefect of Police. Go and see him ; 
 he is said to be good-hearted : perhaps he will give 
 you good advice, or even better than that. If he would 
 speak to his brother on your behalf, we should be saved, 
 for M. Gabriel Delessert is omnipotent in theatrical mat- 
 ters." 
 
 I adopted Antonio's advice with joy, and proceeded ta 
 carry it into effect. M. B. Delessert received me kindly, 
 complimented me on the clock, with which he was quite 
 satisfied, and made me inspect his magnificent picture- 
 gallery, in which it was put up. Emboldened by this 
 kind reception, I explained to him the embarrassment in 
 which I was placed. 
 
 " Well, M. Eobert-Houdin," he said to me, " console 
 yourself; we may possibly arrange this affair. I am going 
 to give a large party next AVednesday evening, to which 
 my brother has promised to come. Do me the pleasure 
 to join us ;• you will give us a specimen of your talents, 
 and when M. le Prefet has learned to appreciate you, I 
 will speak to him of your matter." 
 
 On Wednesday I proceeded to the house of my new 
 protector, who had the kindness to present me to some of 
 his guests, while confidentially praising my sleight-of- 
 hand talents. My performance came off, and, judging by 
 the applause I received, I may say it justified their antici- 
 pated compliments. A week had scarce elapsed when I 
 received a summons to the office of the Prefect of Police. 
 I went there with all speed, and M. Gabriel Delessert 
 informed me that he had been able to induce the minister 
 to revoke his decision. " Hence you can now go," he 
 
MY FIRST REHEARSAL. 181 
 
 added, "and obtain your permission in M. X 's office, 
 
 where it has been sent for some formalities." 
 
 I was cnrioTis about my reception on this occasion, but 
 
 M. X displayed such extreme politeness towards me, 
 
 that it largely made up for the cavalier treatment he had 
 otfered me on the first occasion. Far from leaving me 
 standing, he would willingly have oifered me two chairs 
 instead of one, and when I quitted his office, he over- 
 whelmed me with all the attentions due to a man protected 
 
 by a superior power. I was too happy to bear M. X 
 
 any malice ; hence we separated quite reconciled. 
 
 I will spare my readers the numberless tribulations 
 which accompanied my unending building ; mistakes in 
 time and money are so usual in such matters, that I need 
 not allude to them here. At length, all this was over, and 
 with the liveliest pleasure I saw the last workman depart 
 not to return again. 
 
 We had now reached the end of June, and I hoped to 
 commence at the beginning of July. For this purpose I 
 hastened my preparations, for each day was an enormous 
 loss, as I was spending much and earning nothing. 
 
 I had already given some partial rehearsals, and I now 
 decided on holding one to precede the general rehearsal, 
 but, as I was not quite sure of the success of my experi- 
 ments, I only invited half a dozen intimate friends, pledged 
 to give me their opinion with the greatest severity. This 
 performance was fixed for the 25th June, 1845, and on that 
 day'il made my preparations with as much care as if I were 
 going to give my opening performance, for I had been 
 suffering for nearly a month from a regular panic, which 
 I could attribute to no other cause than my nervous and 
 impressionable temperament. 
 
 I could not get a wink of sleep, my appetite had left me, 
 and I thought of my performances with a species of dread. 
 I, who had hitherto treated so lightly the performances I 
 gave to my friends — I, who had obtained such success at 
 Aubusson, trembled like a child. 
 
 The reason was, that hitherto I had performed before 
 spectators ever smiling or ready to smile, and the success 
 of my experiments made no difierence to me. Now, I was 
 
182 MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-IIOUDIN'. 
 
 about to appear before a real audience, and I trembled at 
 the thought of " the right they purchased at the door." 
 
 On the appointed evening, at eight precisely, my friends 
 having duly arrived, the curtain rose, and I appeared on 
 the stage. Half a dozen smiles greeted my appearance, 
 which rekindled my courage and even gave me a species, 
 of coolness. The first of my experiments was performed 
 very decently, and yet my address was very badly repeated. 
 I recited it like a schoolboy who tries to remember his lesson,. 
 but the good favour of my spectators once acquired, I con- 
 tinued famously. 
 
 To explain what follows, I must mention that, during the 
 whole day, heavy clouds had hung over Paris; and the 
 evening, far from bringing any relief, wafted into the room 
 pufiis of heated air, which seemed to issue from a stove. 
 
 Well, I had scarcely reached the middle of the first part,, 
 when two of my spectators had yielded to the soporific in- 
 fluences of the weather and my " patter." I could excuse 
 them, however, for my own eyelids were beginning to 
 droop. Not being accustomed to sleep standing, however^ 
 I held my own. 
 
 But it is well known that nothing is so contagious as 
 sleep, hence the epidemic made rapid progress. At the 
 end of a few moments the last of the survivors let his 
 head fall on his chest, and completed the sextett, whose 
 snoring, continually crescendo, at length drowned my voice. 
 My situation was disagreeable, and though' I tried to 
 arouse my audience by speaking in a louder key, I only 
 succeeded in causing one or two eyelids to open, which, 
 after a few insane winks, closed again. 
 
 At length the first part of the peiformance was over and 
 the curtain fell, and with much pleasure I stretched myself 
 in an arm-chair to enjoy a few minutes' rest! Five 
 minutes would be enough, and I was asleep before I could 
 repel the invader. My son, who helped me on the stage, 
 had not waited so long ; he had laid himself on the ground, 
 and was sleeping like a top, while my wife, a busy, 
 courageous woman, though struggling against the common 
 foe, watched near me, and, in her tender care, did not 
 disturb a sleep I required so much. Besides, she had 
 
A SLEEPY AUDIENCE. 183 
 
 peeped through the hole in the curtain, and our spectators 
 seemed so happy, that she had not the heart to disturb 
 them. But insensibly her strength betrayed her courage, 
 and unable to resist the temptation of a nap, she fell 
 asleep too. 
 
 The pianist, who represented my orchestra, having seen 
 the curtain fall, and hearing no movement on the stage, 
 thought my performance was over, and determined on 
 going. As the porter had orders to turn off the gas at the 
 main when he saw my pianist go out, and was most anxious 
 to be exact at the beginning of his engagement, he hastened 
 to obey my orders, and plunged the room into utter dark- 
 ness. 
 
 AVe had been enjoying this delightful sleep for about 
 two hours, when I was aroused by a confused sound of 
 voices and shouts. I rubbed my eyes and wondered where 
 I was, but seeing nothing, I grew quite alarmed. " Can 
 I possibly have gone blind?" I exclaimed; " I can see 
 nothing?" 
 
 " Hang it, no more can we see anything !" said a voice, 
 which I recognized as Antonio's. " For goodness' sake, 
 give us a light !" 
 
 " Yes, yes, a light!" my five other spectators repeated 
 in chorus. 
 
 We were soon on our feet ; the curtain was raised, and 
 then, having lighted some candles, we saw our five sleepers 
 rubbing their eyes, and trying to find out where they were ; 
 while Antonio was growling away under the stalls, where 
 he had fallen in his sleep. 
 
 All was then explained ; we had a hearty laugh at 
 the adventure, and separated with a promise of meeting 
 again. 
 
 There were only four days to the 1st of July, and 
 to any one acquainted with the preparations for a first 
 performance, and, far more important still, for opening 
 a theatre, this lapse of time will appear very short, 
 for there is always so much to be done at the last 
 moment. Thus the 1st of July arrived, and I was not 
 prepared, and the opening did not take place till three days 
 later. 
 
184 JIEMOmS OF ROBERT-HOUDLN^. 
 
 On this day, by a strange coincidence, the Hippodrome 
 and the *' fantastic soir(5es" of Robert -Houdin, the largest 
 and smallest stage in Paris, were opened to the public. 
 The 3rd of July, 1845, saw two bills placarded on the walls 
 of Paris; one enormous, belonging to the Hippodrome, 
 while the other, of far more modest proportions, announced 
 my performances. Still, as in the fable of the reed and the 
 oak, the large theatre, in spite of the skill of the ma- 
 nagers, has undergone many changes of fortune ; while the 
 smaller one has continually enjoyed the public favour. 
 
 I have sacredly kept a proof of my first bill, the form and 
 colour of which has always remained the same since that 
 date. I copy it word for word here, both to furnish 
 an idea of its simplicity, and to display the programme of 
 the experiments I then offered to the public : — 
 
 To Day, Thursday, July 3, 1845. 
 FIRST REPRESENTATION 
 
 OF 
 
 THE FANTASTIC SOIREES 
 
 OF 
 
 KOBEKT-HOUDIN. 
 
 AUTOMATA, SLEIGHT-OF-HAND, MAGIC. 
 
 The Performance will be composed of entirely novel 
 Experiments invented by M. Kobert-Hoodin. 
 
 AMONG THEM BEING: 
 
 THE CABALISTIC CLOCK. 
 AURIOL AND DEBUREAU. 
 THE ORANGE-TREE. 
 THE MYSTERIOUS BOUQUET. 
 THE HANDKERCHIEF. 
 PIERROT IN THE EGG. 
 
 OBEDIENT CARDS. 
 THE MIRACULOUS FISH. 
 THE FASCINATING OWL. 
 THE rASTRYCOOK OF THE 
 PALAIS ROYAL. 
 
 TO COMMENCE AT EIGHT O CLOCK. 
 Box-oflSce open at Half-past Seven. 
 
 Price of places : — Gallery, 1 fr. 50 c. ; Area, 3 fr. 
 Stalls, 4 fr. ; Proscenium Boxes, 5 fr. 
 
I AM A COWARD. 185 
 
 Tlie day of my first representation at length arrived. 
 To say how I spent it is impossible ; all I remember 
 is, that, at the end of a feverish and sleepless night, 
 occasioned by the multiplicity of my tasks, I had to 
 organize and foresee everything, for I was at once manager, 
 machinist, author, and actor. What a terrible responsibility 
 for a poor artist, whose life had hitherto been spent among 
 his tools ! 
 
 At seven in the evening, a thousand things had still 
 to be done, but I was in a state of febrile excitement 
 which doubled my strength and energy, and I got through 
 them all. 
 
 Eight o'clock struck and echoed through my heart 
 like the peal that summons the culprit to execution ; 
 never in my life did I experience such emotion and 
 torture. Ah! if I could only draw back! Had it been 
 possible to fly and abandon this position I had so long 
 desired, with what happiness would I have returned 
 to my peaceful avocations! And yet, why did I feel 
 this mad terror ? I know not, for three-fourths of the 
 room were filled withjpersons on whose indulgence I could 
 rely. 
 
 I made a final attack on my pusillanimity. 
 
 "Come!" I said to myself, "courage! I have my 
 name, my future, my children's fortune at stake : cou- 
 rage !" 
 
 This thought restored me ; I passed my Land several 
 times over my agitated features, ordered the curtain to be 
 raised, and without further reflection I walked boldly on the 
 stage. 
 
 My friends, aware of my sufferings, received me with 
 some encouraging applause ; this kind reception restored 
 my confidence, and, like a gentle doAv, refreshed my mind 
 and senses. I began. 
 
 To assert that I acquitted myself fairly would be a proof 
 of vanity, and yet it would be excusable, for I received 
 
 t repeated signs of applause from my audience. But how to 
 distinguish between the applause of the friendly and the 
 jMiying public ? I was glad to deceive myself, and my ex- 
 ...... 
 
186 MEMOIflS- OF R0BERT-H0U1>1.\. 
 
 The first part was over and the curtain fell. My 
 wife came directly to embrace me, to encourage me, 
 and thank me for my courageous efforts. I may now con 
 fess it : I believed that I had been alone severe to 
 myself, and that it was possible all this applause was 
 sterling coin. This belief did me an enormous good : and, 
 why should I conceal it, tears of joy stood in my eyes, which 
 I hastened to wipe away lest my feelings might prevent my 
 preparations for the second part. 
 
 The curtain rose again, and I approached my audience 
 with a smile on my lips. I judged of this change in my face 
 by those of my spectators, for they began all at once to share 
 my good humour. 
 
 How many times since have I tried this imitative faculty 
 on the part of the public ? If you are anxious, ill-disposed 
 or vexed, or should your face bear the stamp of any 
 annoying impression, your audience, straightway imitating 
 the contraction of your features, begins to frown, grows 
 serious, and ill-disposed to be favourable to you. If, 
 however, you appear on the stage with a cheerful face, 
 the most sombre brows unwrinkle, and every one seems 
 to say to the artist : " How d'ye do, old fellow ? your 
 face pleases me, I only want an opportunity to applaud 
 you." Such seemed to be the case with my public at this 
 moment. 
 
 It was more easy for me to feel at my ease as I was 
 beginning my favourite experiment, "the surprising 
 pocket-handkerchief," a medley of clever deceptions. After 
 borrowing a handkerchief, I produced from it a multitude of 
 objects of every description, such as sugar-plums, feathers of 
 every size up to a drum major's, fans, comic journals, and, as a 
 finale, an enormous basket of flowers, which I distributed 
 to the ladies. This trick was perfectly successful, but to tell 
 the truth I had it at my fingers' ends. 
 
 The next performance was the " orange-tree," and I had- 
 every reason to calculate on this trick, for in my private 
 rehearsals it was the one I always did best. I began with 
 a few juggling tricks as introduction, which were perfectly 
 successful, and I had every reason to believe I was getting 
 through it capitally, when a sudden thought crossed my mind 
 
AN UTTER FAILUEE. 187 
 
 and paralyzed me. I was assailed by a panic which must 
 have been felt to be understood, and I will try to explain it 
 by an illustration. 
 
 When you are learning to swim, the teacher begins by 
 giving you this important piece of advice : " Have con- 
 fidence, and all will be well." If you follow his advice, 
 you easily keep yourself up on the water, and it seems 
 perfectly natural; thus you learn to swim. But it 
 often happens that a sudden thought crosses your mind 
 like lightning : *' Suppose my strength failed me !" From 
 that time you hurry your movements, you redouble 
 your speed, the water no longer sustains you, you flounder 
 about, and, if a helping hand were not by, you would be 
 lost. 
 
 Such was my situation on the stage ; the thought had 
 suddenly struck me : " Suppose I were to fail !" And im- 
 mediately I began to talk quick, hurried on in my anxiety 
 to finish, felt confused, and, like a tired swimmer, I floun- 
 dered about without being able to emerge from the chaos of 
 my ideas. 
 
 Oh! then I experienced a torture, an agony which I 
 could not describe, but which might easily become mortal 
 were it prolonged. 
 
 The real public were cold and silent, my friends were 
 foolish enough to applaud, but the rest remained quiet. I 
 scarcely dared to look round the room, and my experiment 
 ended I know not how. 
 
 I proceeded to the next, but my nervous system had 
 reached such a degree of irritation that I no longer knew 
 what I said or did. I only felt that I was speaking with 
 extraordinary volubility, so that the four last tricks of my 
 performance were done in a few minutes. 
 
 The curtain fell very opportunely; my strength was 
 exhausted ; but a little longer and I should have had to 
 crave the indulgence of my audience. 
 
 In my life I never passed so frightful a night as the one 
 following my first performance. I had a fever, I am quite 
 certain, but that was as nothing in comparison with my 
 moral sufferings. I had no desire left or courage to appear 
 on the stage. I wished to sell, give up, or give away, if 
 
iS8 MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 necessary, an establishment which taxed my strength too 
 severely. 
 
 " No," I said to myself, " I am not born for this life of 
 emotion. I will quit the parching atmosphere of a theatre. 
 I will, even at the expense of a brilliant fortune, return to 
 my gentle and calm employment." 
 
 The next morning, incapable of rising, and, indeed, 
 firmly resolved to give up my representations, I had the 
 bill taken down that announced my performance for that 
 evening. I had made up my mind as to all the con- 
 sequences of this resolution. Thus, the sacrifice accom- 
 plished, I found myself far more calm, and even yielded to 
 the imperious claims of a sleep I had for a long time 
 denied myself. 
 
 I have now arrived at a moment when I shall quit for 
 ever the mournful and wearisome details of the numerous 
 misfortunes that preceded my representations ; but ray 
 readers will notice with some surprise to what a futile 
 circumstance I owed my release from tliis state of dis- 
 couragement, which I fancied would last for ever. 
 
 The repose I had taken during the day and the follow- 
 ing night had refreshed my blood and my ideas. I regarded 
 my situation under a very diflerent aspect, and I had 
 already made up my mind not to give up my theatre, 
 when one of my friends — or, who called himself so — came 
 to pay me a visit. 
 
 After expressing his regret at the unhappy result of 
 my first performance, at which he had been present, he 
 said : 
 
 *' I called in to see you because I noticed your room was 
 closed, and I had a wish to express my feelings to you on 
 the subject. I must say, then, to speak frankly (I have 
 noticed that this phrase is always followed by some bad 
 compliment, which is meant to pass under the guise of 
 friendly frankness), that you are perfectly right to quit a 
 profession beyond your strength, and that you have acted 
 wisely by anticipating with good grace a decision to which 
 you would have been forced sooner or later. However," he 
 added, with a self-sufficient air, " I foretold it. I always 
 thought you were committing an act of madness, and that 
 
A GOOD-NATURED FRIEND. 18& 
 
 your theatre would no sooner be opened than you would 
 be obliged to close it." 
 
 These cruel compliments, addressed under the cloak of 
 apocrj^phal frankness, wounded me deeply. I could easily 
 detect that this offerer of advice, sacrificing to his vanity the 
 slight affection he felt for me, had only come to see me in 
 order to parade his perspicacity and the justice of his pre- 
 visions, of which he had never mentioned a syllable to me. 
 Well, this infallible prophet, who foresaw events so truly, 
 was far from suspecting the change he was producing in 
 me. The more he talked, the more he confirmed me in 
 the resolution of continuing my performances. 
 
 " Who told you my room was closed?" I said, in a tone 
 that had nothing affectionate about it. '* If I did not per- 
 form yesterday, it was because, worn out by the fatigue I 
 have undergone for some time, I wished to rest for at least 
 one day. Your foreboding will therefore be disappointed 
 when 1 tell you that I shall perforin this very evening. I 
 hope, in my second representation, to take my revenge on 
 the public ; and this time they will judge me less severely 
 than you have done. I am quite convinced of it." 
 
 The conversation having taken this turn, could not be 
 continued much longer. My offerer of advice, dissatisfied 
 at my reception of him, quitted me, and I have never seen 
 him since. Yet, I bear him no malice ; on the contrary, if 
 he reads my Memoirs, I beg to offer him in this place my 
 thanks for the happy revolution he produced in me by 
 wounding my vanity to the quick. 
 
 Bills were immediately posted to announce my perform- 
 ance for that evening, and I made my preparations calmly, 
 while thinking over those parts of my performance in 
 which it would be advisable to introduce a change. 
 
 This second representation went on much better than I 
 had hoped, and my audience appeared satisfied. Un- 
 fortunately, that audience was small, and my receipts, 
 consequently, were the same. Still, I accepted it all philo- 
 sophically, for the success I had obtained gave me con- 
 fidence in the future. 
 
 However, I soon had real causes for consolation. The 
 celebrities of the press came to my representations, and 
 
190 MEMOIRS OF R0BERT-H0UD7N. 
 
 described my performance in the most flattering terms. 
 Some contributors to the comic papers also made very- 
 pleasant allusions to my performances and iiiyself. Among 
 others, the present editor of the Charivan wrote an article 
 full of fun and dash about my performances, which he 
 terminated with some lines, expressive of his decided 
 opinion that I belonged to the family of Robert le Diablo 
 and Eobert Macaire. 
 
 Finally, the Illustration, desirous of evincing its sympathy, 
 engaged Eugene Forey to draw a sketch of my theatre. 
 Such publicity soon attracted the attention of the first 
 Parisian circles : people came to see my perfonnances : 
 they appointed to meet at my room, and from this moment 
 commenced that reputation which has never left me since. 
 
 CHAPTEE XIV. 
 
 New Studies — A Comic Journal — Invention of Second Sight — Curious 
 Experiments — An enthusiastic Spectator — Danger of being a Sor- 
 cerer—A Philter or your Life — Way to get rid of Bores — An Electric 
 Touch — I perform at the Vaudeville— Struggles with the Incre- 
 dulous—Interesting Details. 
 
 FoNTENELLE says, some where or other, '* There is no suc- 
 cess, however merited, in which luck does not have a 
 share;" and, although I was of the same opinion as the 
 illustrious Academician, I determined by sheer toil to 
 diminish as much as in me lay the share luck could claim 
 in my success. In the first place, I redoubled my efforts 
 to improve the execution of my tricks, and when I believed 
 I had attained that result, I tried to correct a fault which, 
 I felt, must injure my performance. This was speaking 
 too rapidly ; and my " patter," recited in a schoolboy tone, 
 thus lost much of its effect. I was drawn in this falser 
 direction by my natural vivacity, and I had great trouble 
 in correcting it ; however, by resolutely attacking my 
 enemy, I managed to conquer it. 
 
 This victory was doubly profitable to me : I performed 
 with much less fatigue, and had the pleasure of noticing. 
 
CONJURING PRESENTS. 191 
 
 in the calmness of my audience, that I had realized the 
 scenic truth, " the more slowly a story is told, the shorter 
 it seems." In fact, if you pronounce slowly, the public, 
 judging from your calmness that you take an interest in 
 what you are saying, yield to your influence, and listen to 
 you with sustained attention. If, on the contrary, your 
 words reveal a desire to finish quickly, your auditors 
 gradually submit to the influence of this restlessness, and 
 they are as anxious as yourself to hear the end of your story. 
 
 I have said that people of the first rank came to my 
 theatre, but I noticed, on the other hand, to my regret, 
 that my pit was scantily filled. As I was ambitious to 
 have my room thronged, I thought I could not effect this 
 more easily than by making my theatre better known than 
 I had hitherto done. 
 
 From time immemorial it has been the custom, at con- 
 juring performances to distribute small presents to the 
 audience, in order to "maintain their friendship." Toys 
 were generally selected, which spectators of all ages con- 
 tended for ; and this often made Comte say at the moment 
 of distribution, " Here are toys for great children and 
 small." These presents had. a very ephemeral existence, 
 and as nothing indicated their origin, they could attract no 
 attention to the giver. A^'hile, then, I was as liberal as 
 my predecessors, I wished that my little presents should 
 keep up for a longer period the remembrance of my name 
 and experiments. Instead of dolls and other similar 
 objects, I distributed to my spectators, under the form of 
 presents produced by magic, illustrated comic journals, 
 elegant fans, albums, and rebuses, all accompanied by 
 bouquets and excellent bonbons. Each article bore, not 
 only the inscription " Eecollections of Eobert-Houdin's 
 fantastic soirees," but also details of my performances, 
 according to the nature of the article. These were gene- 
 rally presented in the shape of verses. The thing that 
 caused me the most trouble was my comic journal, the 
 " Cagliostro," which I was forced to edit at the expense of 
 my night's rest. The audience were amused by my jests, 
 and the perusal of the paper between the acts gave me a 
 little more time to make my preparations. 
 
192 MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 The experiment, however, to which I owed my reputa- 
 tion was one inspired by that fantastic god to whom Pascal 
 attributes all the discoveries of this sublunary world : 
 chance led me straight to the invention of second sight. 
 
 My two children were playing one day in the drawing- 
 room at a game they had invented for their own amuse- 
 ment. The younger had bandaged his elder brother's 
 eyes, and made him guess the objects he touched, and when 
 the latter happened to guess right, they changed places. 
 This simple game suggested to me the most complicated 
 idea that over crossed my mind. 
 
 Pursued by the notion, I ran and shut myself up in my 
 workroom, and was fortunately in that happy state when 
 the mind follows easily the combinations traced by fancy. 
 I rested my head in my hands, and, in my excitement, 
 laid down the first principles of second sight. 
 
 It would require a whole volume to describe the number- 
 less combinations of this experiment ; but this description, 
 far too serious for these memoirs, will find a place in a 
 special work, which will also contain the explanation of 
 my theatrical tricks. Still, I cannot resist the desire of 
 cursorily explaining some of the preliminary experiments 
 to which I had recourse before I could make the trick 
 perfect. 
 
 My readers will remember the experiment suggested to 
 me formerly by the pianist's dexterity, and the strange 
 faculty I succeeded in attaining: I could read while 
 juggling with four balls. Thinking seriously of this, I 
 fancied that this "perception by appreciation" might be 
 susceptible of equal development, if I applied its principles 
 to the memory and the mind. 
 
 I resolved, therefore, on making some experiments with 
 my son Emilc, and, in order to make my young assistant 
 understand the nature of the exercise we were going to 
 learn, I took a domino, the cinq-quater for instance, and 
 laid it before him. Instead of letting him count the points 
 of the two numbers, I requested the boy to tell me the 
 total at once. 
 
 " Nine," he said. 
 
 Then I added another domino, the quater-tray. 
 
MY DISCOVERY OF SECOND SIGHT. 193 
 
 " That makes sixteen," he said, without any hesitation. 
 
 I stopped the first lesson here ; the next day we suc- 
 ceeded in counting at a single glance four dominoes, the 
 day after six, and thus we at length were enabled to give 
 instantaneously the product of a dozen dominoes. 
 
 This result obtained, we applied ourselves to a far more 
 difficult task, over which we spent a month. My son and I 
 passed rapidly before a toy-shop, or any other displaying a 
 variety of wares, and cast an attentive glance upon it. A 
 few steps further on we drew paper and pencil from our 
 pockets, and tried which could describe the greater number 
 of objects seen in passing. I must own that my son 
 reached a perfection far greater than mine, for he could 
 often write down forty objects, while I could scarce reach 
 thirty. Often feeling vexed at this defeat, I would return 
 to the shop and verify his statement, but he rarely made a 
 mistake. 
 
 My male readers will certainly understand the possibility 
 of this, but they will recognize the difficulty. As for my 
 iady readers, I am convinced Jaeforehand they will not be 
 of the same opinion, for they daily perform far more 
 astounding feats. Thus, for instance, I can safely assert 
 that a lady seeing another pass at full speed in a carriage, 
 will have had time to analyze her toilette from her bonnet 
 to her shoes, and be able to describe not only the fashion 
 and quality of the stuffs, but also say if the lace be real, or 
 only machine made. I have known ladies do this. 
 
 This natural, or acquired, faculty among ladies, but 
 which my son and I had only gained by constant practice, 
 was of great service in my performances, for while I was 
 executing my tricks, I could see everj^thing that passed 
 -around me, and thus prepare to foil any difficulties pre- 
 sented me. This exercise had given me, so to speak, the 
 power of following two ideas simultaneously, and nothing 
 is more favourable in conjuring than to be able to think at 
 the same time both of what you are saying and of what 
 you are doing. I eventually acquired such a knack in 
 this, that I frequently invented new tricks while going 
 through my performances. One day, even, I made a bet I 
 would solve a problem in mechanics while taking my part 
 
 
 
194 • MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 in conversation. We were talking of the pleasure of a 
 countiy life, and I calculated during this time the quantity 
 of wheels and pinions, as well as the necessary cogs, to 
 produce certain revolutions required, without once failing 
 in my reply. 
 
 This slight explanation will be sufficient to show what 
 is the essential basis of second sight, and I will add that a 
 secret and unnoticeable correspondence existed between 
 my son and myself, by which I could announce to him 
 the name, nature, and bulk of objects handed me by 
 spectators. 
 
 As none understood my mode of action, they were 
 tempted to believe in something extraordinary, and, 
 indeed, my son Emile, then aged twelve, possessed all the 
 essential qualities to produce this opinion, for his pale, 
 intellectual, and ever thoughtful face represented the type 
 of a boy gifted with some supernatural power. 
 
 Two months were incessantly employed in erecting the 
 scaffolding of our tricks, and when we were quite con- 
 fident of being able to contend against the difficulties of 
 such an undertaking, we announced the first representa- 
 tion of second sight. On the 12th of February, 1846, I 
 printed in the centre of my bill the following singular 
 announcement : 
 
 " In this performance M. Robert- Houdin^s son, tcho is gifted 
 •ucith a marvellous second sight, after his eyes have been covered 
 with a thick bandage, will designate every object presented to him by 
 the audience'' 
 
 I cannot say whether this announcement attracted any 
 spectators, for my room was constantly crowded ; still I 
 may affirm, what may seem very extraordinary, that the 
 experiment of second sight, which afterwards became so 
 fashionable, produced no effect on the first performance. 
 I am inclined to believe that the spectators fancied them- 
 selves the dupes of accomplices, but I was much an- 
 noyed by the result, as I had built on the surprise I 
 should produce ; still, having no reason to doubt its 
 ultimate success, I was tempted to make a second trial, 
 which turned out well. 
 
 The next evening I noticed in my room several persons 
 
THE FIRST PERFORMANCE. 195 
 
 who had been present on the previous night, and I felt 
 they had come a second time to assure themselves of the 
 reality of the experiment. It seems they were convinced, 
 for my success was complete, and amply compensated .for 
 my former disappointment. 
 
 I especially remember a mark of singular approval with 
 which one of my pit audience favoured me. My son had 
 named to him several objects he offered in succession ; 
 but not feeling satisfied, my incredulous friend, rising, as 
 if to give more importance to the difficulty he was about 
 to present, handed me an instrument peculiar to cloth 
 merchants, and employed to count the number of threads. 
 Acquiescing in his wish, I said to my boy, " What do I 
 hold in my hand ?" 
 
 " It is an instrument to judge the fineness of cloth, and 
 called a thread counter." 
 
 " By Jove !" my spectator said, energetically, " it is 
 marvellous. If I had paid ten francs to see it, I should not 
 begrudge them." 
 
 From this moment my room was much too small, and 
 was crowded every evening. 
 
 Still, success is not entirely rose-coloured, and I could 
 easily narrate many disagreeable scenes produced by the 
 reputation I had of being a sorcerer ; but I will only 
 mention one, which forms a resume of all I pass over. 
 
 A young lady of elegant manners paid me a visit one 
 day, and although her face was hidden by a thick veil, my 
 practised eyes perfectly distinguished her features. She 
 was very pretty. 
 
 My incognita would not consent to sit down till she 
 was assured we were alone, and that I was the real 
 Eobert-Houdin. I also seated myself, and assuming the 
 attitude of a man prepared to listen, I bent slightly to my 
 visitor, as if awaiting her pleasure to explain to me the 
 object of her mysterious visit. To my great surprise, the 
 young lady, whose manner betrayed extreme emotion, 
 maintained the most profound silence, and I began to find 
 the visit very strange, and was on the point of forcing an 
 explanation, at any hazard, when the fair unknown timidly 
 ventured these words : — 
 
 o2 
 
196 MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 ** Good Heavens ! sir, I know not how you will interpret 
 my visit." 
 
 Here she stopped, and let her eyes sink with a very 
 embarrassed air; then, making a violent effort, she con- 
 tinued : 
 
 " What I have to ask of you, sir, is very difficult to 
 explain." 
 
 *' Speak, madam, I beg," I said, politely, *' and I will try 
 to guess what you cannot explain to me." 
 
 And I began asking myself what this reserve meant. 
 
 " In the first place," the young ]ady said, in a low 
 voice, and looking round her, " I must tell you confi- 
 dentially that I loved, my love was returned, and I — I am 
 betrayed." 
 
 At the last word the lady raised her head, overcame the 
 timidity she felt, and said, in a firm and assured voice, 
 
 "Yes, sir — yes, I am betrayed, and for that reason I 
 have come to you." 
 
 " Keally, madam," I said, much surprised at this strange 
 confession, *' I do not see how I can help you in such a 
 matter." 
 
 " Oh, sir, I entreat you," said my fair visitor, clasping 
 her hands — " I implore you not to abandon me !" 
 
 I had great difficulty in keeping my countenance, and 
 yet I felt an extreme curiosity to know the history con- 
 cealed behind this mystery. 
 
 *' Calm yourself, madam," I remarked, in a tone of tender 
 sympathy ; " tell me what you would of me, and if it be in 
 my power " 
 
 " If it be in your power !" the young lady said, quickly ; 
 *' why, nothing is more easy, sir." 
 
 " Explain yourself, madam." 
 
 " Well, sir, I wish to be avenged." 
 
 "In what way?" 
 
 " How, you know better than I, sir ; must I teach you ? 
 You have in your power means to " 
 
 " I, madam ?" 
 
 *' Yes, sir, you ! for you are a sorcerer, and cannot deny 
 it." 
 
 At this word sorcerer, I was much inclined to laugh ; 
 
A SORCERER AGAINST HIS WILL. 197 
 
 but I was restrained by the incognita's evident emotion. 
 Still, wishing to put an end to a scene which was growing 
 ridiculous, I said, in a politely ironical tone : 
 
 " Unfortunately, madam, you give me a title I never 
 
 How, sir !" the young woman exclaimed, in a quick 
 tone, " you will not allow you are " 
 
 " A sorcerer, madam ? Oh no, I will not." 
 
 "You will not?" 
 
 " No, a thousand times no, madam." 
 
 At these words my visitor rose hastily, muttered a few 
 incoherent words, appeared suffering from terrible emotion, 
 and then drawing near me with flaming eyes and passionate 
 -gestures, repeated : 
 
 *' Ah, you will not ! Very good ; I now know what I 
 have to do." 
 
 Stupefied by such an outbreak, I looked at her fixedly, 
 and began to suspect the cause of her extraordinary con- 
 duct. 
 
 " There are two modes of acting," she said, with 
 terrible volubility, " towards people who devote them- 
 ,selves to magic arts — entreaty and menaces. You would 
 not yield to the first of these means, hence, I must employ 
 the second. Stay," she added, " perhaps this will induce 
 you to speak." 
 
 And, lifting up her cloak, she laid her hand on the hilt 
 of a dagger passed through her girdle. At the same time 
 she suddenly threw back her veil, and displayed features 
 in which all the signs of rage and madness could be traced. 
 Ko longer having a doubt as to the person I had to deal 
 with, my first movement was to rise and stand on my 
 guard ; but this first feeling overcome, I repented the 
 thought of a struggle with the unhappy woman, and deter- 
 mined on employing a method almost always successful 
 with those deprived of reason. I pretended to accede to 
 her wishes. 
 
 " If it be so, madam, I yield to your request. Tell me 
 what you require." 
 
 " I have told you, sir; I wish for vengeance, and there 
 is only one method to " 
 
IW MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 Here there was a frewli interruption, and the young lady, 
 calmed by my apparent submission, as well as embarrassed 
 by the request she had to make of me, became again timid 
 and confused. 
 
 /'Well, madam?" 
 
 '* Well, sir, I know not how to tell yon — how to explain 
 to you — but I fancy there are certain means— certain spells 
 — which render it impossible — impossible for a man to be 
 —unfaithful." 
 
 *' I now understand what you wish, madam. It is a 
 certain magic practice employed in the middle ages. No- 
 thing is easier, and I will satisfy you." 
 
 Decided on playing the farce to the end, I took down 
 the largest book I could find in my library, turned over 
 the leaves, stopped at a page which I pretended to scan 
 with profound attention, and then addressing the lady, who 
 followed all my movements anxiously — 
 
 " Madam," I said, confidentially, " the spell I am going 
 to perform renders it necessary for me to know the nam© 
 of the person ; have the kindness, then, to tell it me." \ 
 
 *' Julian !" she said, in a faint voice. 
 
 With all the gravity of a real sorcerer, I solemnly thrust; 
 a pin through a lighted candle, and pronounced some caba- 
 listic words. After which, blowing out the candle, and 
 turning to the poor creature, I said : — 
 
 '* Madam, it is done ; your wish is accomplished." 
 
 " Oh, thank you, sir," she replied, with the expression 
 of the profoundest gratitude ; and at the same moment she 
 laid a purse on the table and rushed away. I ordered my 
 servant to follow her to her house, and obtain all the inform • 
 ation he could about her, and I learned she had been a 
 widow for a short time, and that the loss of an adored 
 husband had disturbed her reason. The next day I visited 
 her relatives, and, returning them the purse, I told them 
 the scene the details of whieh the reader has just perused. 
 
 This scene, with some others that preceded and followed 
 it, compelled me to take measures to guard myself against 
 bores of every description. I could not dream, as for- 
 merly, of exiling myself in the country, but I employed a 
 similar resource : this was to shut myself up in my work- 
 
BORE-HUNTING. 199 
 
 room, and organize around me a system of defence 
 against those whom I called, in my ill-temper, thieves of 
 time. 
 
 I daily received visits from persons who were utter 
 strangers to me ; some were worth knowing, but the 
 majority, gaining an introduction under the most futile 
 pretexts, only came to kill a portion of their leisure time 
 with me. It was necessary to distinguish the tares from 
 the wheat, and this is the arrangement I made : — 
 
 When one of these gentlemen rang at my door, an electric 
 communication struck a bell in my workroom ; I was thus 
 warned and put on my guard. My servant opened the 
 door, and, as is customary, inquired the visitor's name, 
 while I, for my part, laid my ear to a tube, arranged for 
 the purpose, which conveyed to me every word. If, ac- 
 cording to his reply, I thought it as well not to receive 
 him, I pressed a button, and a white mark that appeared 
 in a certain part of the hall announced I was not at home 
 to him. My servant then stated I was out, and begged 
 the visitor to apply to the manager. 
 
 Sometimes it happened that I erred in my judgment, and 
 regretted having granted an audience ; but I had another 
 mode of shortening a bore's visit. I 'had placed behind 
 the sofa on which I sat an electric spring, communicating 
 with a bell my servant could hear. In case of need, and 
 while talking, I threw my arm carelessly over the back of 
 the sofa, touched the spring, and the bell rang. • Then my 
 servant, playing a little farce, opened the front door, rang 
 the bell, which could be heard from the room where I sat, 
 
 and came to tell me that M. X (a name invented 
 
 for the occasion) wished, to speak to me. I ordered 
 
 M. X to be shown into an adjoining room, and it was 
 
 very rare that my bore did not raise the siege. No one 
 can form an idea how much time I gained by this happy 
 arrangement, or how many times I blessed my imagination 
 ;and the celebrated savant to whom the discovery of gal- 
 vanism is due ! 
 
 This feeling can be easily explained, for my time was of 
 inestimable value. I husbanded it like a treasure, and 
 never sacrificed it, unless the sacrifice might help me to 
 
200 MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOUDJN. 
 
 discover new experiments destined to stimulate public 
 curiosity. 
 
 To support my detennination in making my researches^ 
 I had ever before me this maxim : — 
 
 It is more difficult to support admiration than to 
 excite it. 
 
 And this other, an apparent corollary of the preceding : — 
 
 The FASHION an artiste enjoys can only last as long 
 
 AS HIS TALENT DAILY INCREASES. 
 
 Nothing increases a professional man's merit so much as 
 the possession of an independent fortune ; this truth may 
 be coarse, but it is indubitable. Kot only was I convinced 
 of these principles of high economy, but 1 also knew that 
 a man must strive to profit by the fickle favour of the 
 public, which equally descends if it does not rise. Hence 
 I worked my reputation as much as I could. In spite of 
 my numerous engagements, I found means to give per- 
 formances in all the principal theatres, though great diffi- 
 culties frequently arose, as my performance did not end 
 till half-past ten, and I could only fulfil my other engage- 
 ments after that hour. 
 
 Eleven o'clock was generally the hour fixed for my 
 appearance on a strange stage, and my readers may judge 
 of the speed required to proceed to the theatre in so short 
 a time and make my preparations. It is true that the 
 moments were as well counted as employed, and my cur- 
 tain had hardly fallen than, rushing towards the stairs, I 
 got before my audience, and jumped into a vehicle that 
 bore me off at full speed. 
 
 But this fatigue was as nothing compared to the emotion 
 occasionally produced by an error in the time that was ta 
 elapse between my two performances. I remember that, 
 one night, having to wind up the performances at the 
 Vaudeville, the stage-manager miscalculated the time th& 
 pieces would take in perfoiming, and found himself much in 
 advance. He sent off an express to warn me that the curtain 
 had fallen, and that I was anxiously expected. Can my 
 readers comprehend my wretchedness? My experiments, 
 of which I could omit none, would occupy another quarter 
 of an hour ; but instead of indulging in useless recrimina- 
 
A RACE FOR TIME. 201 
 
 tions, I resigned myself, and continued my performance, 
 though I was a prey to frightful anxiety. While speaking, 
 I fancied I could hear that cadenced yell of the public to 
 which the famous song, '•'■ Des lampions, des lampions,''^ was 
 set. Thus, either through preoccupation, or a desire to 
 end sooner, I found, when my performance was over, that 
 I had gained five minutes out of the quarter of an hour» 
 Assuredly, it might be called the quarter of an hour's 
 grace. 
 
 To jump into a carriage and drive to the Place de la 
 Bourse was the affair of an instant ; still, twenty minutes 
 had elapsed since the curtain fell, and that was an enormous, 
 time. My son Emile and I proceeded up the actors' stairs 
 at full speed, but, on the first step, we had heard the cries, 
 whistling, and stamping of the impatient audience. What 
 a prospect ! I knew that frequently, either right or wrong, 
 the public treated an artiste, no matter whom, very harshly, 
 to remind him of punctuality. That sovereign always 
 appears to have on its lips the words of another monarch : 
 " i was obliged to wait." However, we hurried up the 
 steps leading to the stage. 
 
 The stage-manager, who had been watching, on hearing 
 our hurried steps, cried from the landing : 
 
 " Is that you, M. Houdin?" 
 
 " Yes, sir — yes." 
 
 *' Eaise the curtain !" the same voice shouted. 
 
 " Wait, wait, it is imp " 
 
 My breath would not allow me to finish my objection ; I 
 fell on a chair, unable to move. 
 
 " Come, M. Houdin," the manager said, " do go on the 
 stage, the curtain is up, and the public are so impatient." 
 
 The door at the back of the stage was open, but I could 
 not pass through it, fatigue and emotion nailed me to the 
 spot. Still, an idea occurred to me, which saved me from, 
 the popular wrath. 
 
 "Go on to the stage, my boy," I said to my son, " and 
 prepare all that is wanting for the second-sight trick." 
 
 The public allowed themselves to be disarmed by this 
 youth, whose face inspired a sympathizing interest; and 
 my son, after gravely bowing to the audience, quietly made 
 
202 MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 his slight preparations, that is to say, he carried an ottoman 
 to the front of the stage, and placed on a neighbouring 
 table a slate, some chalk, a pack of cards, and a bandage. 
 
 This slight delay enabled me to recover my breath and 
 calm my nerves, and I advanced in my turn with an 
 attempt to assume the stereotyped smile, in which I 
 signally failed, as I was so agitated. The audience at first 
 remained silent, then their faces gradually unwrinkled, 
 and soon, one or two claps having been ventured, they 
 were carried away, and peace was made. I was well 
 rewarded, however, for this terrible ordeal, as my " second 
 sight " never gained a more brilliant triumph. 
 
 An incident greatly enlivened the termination of my 
 performance. 
 
 A spectator, who had evidently come on purpose to em- 
 barrass us, had tried in vain for some minutes to baffle my 
 son's clairvoyance, when, turning to me, he said, laying 
 marked stress on his words : 
 
 " As your son is a soothsayer, of course he can guess th& 
 number of my stall ?" 
 
 The importunate spectator doubtlessly hoped to force us 
 into a confession of our impotence, for he covered his 
 number, and the adjacent seats being occupied, it was 
 apparently impossible to read the numbers. But I was on 
 my guard against all surprises, and my reply was ready. 
 Still, in order to profit as much as possible by the situation, 
 I feigned to draw back. 
 
 " You know, sir," I said, feigning an embarrassed air, 
 " that my son is neither sorcerer nor diviner ; he reads 
 through my eyes, and hence I have given this experiment 
 the name of second sight. As I cannot see the number of 
 your stall, and the seats close to you are occupied, my son 
 cannot tell it you." 
 
 " Ah ! 1 was certain of it," my persecutor said, in tri- 
 umph, and turning to his neighbours : " I told you I would 
 pin him." 
 
 " Oh, sir ! you are not generous in your victory," I said, 
 in my turn, in a tone of mockery. " Take care; if you 
 pique my son's vanity too sharply, he may solve your 
 problem, though it is so difficult." 
 
A GREAT TRIUMPH. 203 
 
 *' I defy him," said the spectator, leaning firmly against 
 the back of his seat, to hide the nimiher better — "yes, yes 
 — I defy him !" 
 
 " You believe it to be difficult, then?" 
 
 " I will grant more : it is impossible." 
 
 " \V ell, then, sir, that is a stronger reason for us to try 
 it. You will not be angry if we triumph in our turn ?" I 
 added with a petulant smile. 
 
 " Come, sir ; we understand evasions of that sort. I re- 
 peat it — I challenge you both." 
 
 The public found great amusement in this debate, and. 
 patiently awaited its issue. 
 
 " Emile," I said to my son, "prove to this gentleman 
 that nothing can escape your second sight." 
 
 " It is number sixty-nine," the boy answered, imme* 
 diately. 
 
 Noisy and hearty applause rose from every part of the 
 theatre, in which our opponent joined, for, confessing his 
 defeat, he exclaimed, as he clapped his hands, "It is 
 astounding — magnificent !" 
 
 The way I succeeded in finding out the number of the 
 stall was this : I knew beforehand that in all theatres 
 where the stalls are divided dow^n the centre by a passage, 
 the uneven numbers are on the right, and the even on the 
 left. As at the Vaudeville each row was composed of ten 
 stalls, it followed that on the right hand the several rows 
 must begin with one, twenty-one, forty one, and so on, 
 increasing by twenty each. Guided by this, I had no 
 difficulty in discovering that my opponent was seated in 
 number sixty-nine, representing the fifth stall in the fourth 
 row. I had prolonged the conversation for the double 
 purpose of giving more brilliancy to my experiment, and 
 gaining time to make my researches. Thus I applied my 
 process of two simultaneous thoughts, to which I have 
 already alluded. 
 
 As I am now explaining matters, I may as well tell my 
 readers some of the artifices that added material brilliancy 
 to the second sight. I have already said this experiment 
 was the result of a material communication between myself 
 and my son, which no one could detect. Its combinations 
 
204 MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 enabled us to describe any conceivable object ; but though 
 this was a splendid rssult, I saw that I should soon en- 
 counter unheard-of difficulties in executing it. 
 
 The experiment of second sight always formed the ter- 
 mination of my performance. Each evening I saw unbe- 
 lievers arrive with all sorts of articles to, triumph over 
 a secret which they could not unravel. Before going to 
 see Robert-Houdin's son a council was held, in which 
 an object that must embarrass the father was chosen. 
 Among these were half-effaced antique medals, mine- 
 rals, books printed in characters of every description 
 (living and dead languages), coats of arms, microscopic 
 pbjects, &c. 
 
 But what caused me the greatest difficulty was in finding 
 X)ut the contents of parcels, often tied with a string, or even 
 sealed up. But I had managed to contend successfully 
 against all these attempts to embarrass me. I opened 
 boxes, purses, pocket-books, &c., with great ease, and 
 unnoticed, while appearing to be engaged on something 
 quite different. Were a sealed parcel offered me, I cut a 
 small slit in the paper with the nail of my left thumb, 
 which I always purposely kept very long and sharp, and 
 thus discovered what it contained. One essential condi- 
 tion was excellent sight, and that I possessed to perfection. 
 I owed it originally to my old trade, and practice daily 
 improved it. An equally indispensable necessity was to 
 know the name of every object offered me. It was not 
 enough to say, for instance, "It is a coin;" but my son 
 must give its technical name, its value, the country in 
 which it was current, and the year in which it was struck. 
 Thus, for instance, if an English crown were handed me, 
 my son was expected to state that it was struck in the 
 reign of George IV., and had an intrinsic value of six francs 
 eighteen centimes. 
 
 Aided by an excellent memory, we had managed to 
 classify in our heads the name and value of all foreign 
 money. We could also describe a coat of arms in heraldic 
 
 terms. Thus, on the arms of the house of X being 
 
 handed me, my son would reply : "Field gules, with two 
 croziers argent in pale." This knowledge was very useful 
 
A VALUABLE FRIEND. 205 
 
 to US in the salons of the Faubourg Saint Germain, where 
 we were frequently summoned. 
 
 I had also learned the characters — though unable to 
 translate a word — of an infinity of languages, such as 
 Chinese, Eussian, Turkish, Greek, Hebrew, &c. We 
 knew, too, the names of all chirurgical instruments, so that 
 a surgical pocket-book, however complicated it might be, 
 could not embarrass us. Lastly, I had a very sufficient 
 knowledge of mineralogy, precious stones, antiquities, and 
 curiosities; but I had at my command every possible 
 resource for acquiring these studies, as one of my dearest 
 and best friends, Aristide le Carpentier, a learned anti- 
 quary, and uncle of the talented composer of the same 
 name, had, and still has, a cabinet of antique curiosities, 
 which makes the keepers of the imperial museums fierce 
 with envy. My son and I spent many long days in learn- 
 ing here names and dates, of which we afterwards made a 
 learned display. Le Carpentier taught me many things, 
 and, among others, he described various signs by which to 
 recognize old coins when the die is worn off. Thus, a 
 Trajan, a Tiberius, or a Marcus Aurelius became as familiar 
 to me as a five-franc piece. 
 
 Owing to my old trade, I could open a watch with 
 ease, and do it with one hand, so as to be able to read the 
 maker's name without the public suspecting it : then I shut 
 upi the watch again, and the trick was ready ; my son 
 managed the rest of the business. 
 
 But that power of memory which my son possessed in an 
 eminent degree certainly did us the greatest service, When 
 we went to private houses, he needed only a very rapid 
 inspection, in order to know all the objects in a room, as 
 well as the various ornaments worn by the spectators, such 
 as chatelaines, pins, eye-glasses, fans, brooches, rings, 
 bouquets, &c. He thus could describe these objects with 
 the greatest ease, when I pointed them out to him by our 
 secret communication. Here is an instance : — 
 
 One evening, at a house in the Chaussee d'Antin, and at 
 the end of a performance which had been as successful as it 
 was loudly applauded, I remembered that while passing 
 through the next room to the one we were now in, I had 
 
206 MEMOIES OF EOBERT-HOITDIN. 
 
 begged my 8on to cast a glance at a library, and remember 
 the titles of some of the books, as well as the order they 
 were arranged in. No one had noticed this rapid examina- 
 tion. 
 
 " To end the second-sight experiment, sir," I said to the 
 master of the house, "I will prove to you that my son can 
 read through a wall. Will you lend me a book ?" 
 
 I was naturally conducted to the library in question, 
 which I pretended now to see for the first time, and I laid 
 my finger on a book. 
 
 " Emile," I said to my son, *' what is the name of this 
 work ?" 
 
 *' It is Buffon," he replied, quickly. 
 
 " And the one by its side ?" an incredulous spectator 
 hastened to ask. 
 
 '* On the right or left?" my son asked. 
 
 *' On the right," the speaker said, having a good reason 
 for choosing this book, for the lettering was very small. 
 
 *' ' The Travels of Anacharsis the Younger,' " the boy 
 replied. " But," he added, " had you asked the name of 
 the book on the left, sir, I should have said Lamartine's 
 Poetry. A little to the right of this row, I see Crebillon's 
 works ; below, two volumes of Fleury's Memoirs;" and my 
 son thus named a dozen books before he stopped. 
 
 The spectators had not said a word during this descrip- 
 tion, as they felt so amazed; but when the experiment 
 had ended, all complimented us by clapping their hands. 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 Seductions of a Theatrical Agent— How to gain One Hundred Thou- 
 sand Francs— I start for Brussels- A lucky Two-Sou Piece— Mise- 
 ries of professional Travelling— The Park Theatre— Tyranny of a 
 Porter — Full House — Small Keceipts — Deceptions — Retiim to 
 Paris. 
 
 Had it not been for my constant toil and the inconveni- 
 ences attaching to it, I should have been quite happy and 
 satisfied with the daily profit my performances brought me 
 in. But one fine day the demon of seduction presented 
 
A THEATRICAL AGENT. 207 
 
 himself before me in the obsequious form of a theatrical 
 agent. 
 
 *' Monsieur Eobert-Houdin," he said, with a smile on 
 his lips, as if we were old friends, " I am commissioned 
 
 by M. X , manager of the royal theatres of Brussels, 
 
 to offer you an engagement for the summer season." 
 
 My first answer was a refusal, which I based on excel- 
 lent reasons. As I was very successful, it would not be 
 prudent to break the vein, while I saw no occasion to go a 
 long distance in search of advantages I could secure at 
 home. This reasoning would have settled any one but a 
 theatrical agent ; but nothing, it is well known, can shake 
 off the grip of these skilful crimps. 
 
 " Permit me, Monsieur Eobert-Houdin, not to be quite 
 of your opinion. I allow, of course, that with your talents 
 you are always secure of good receipts, but you should 
 bear in mind that the dog days are approaching, and your 
 room is stifling in summer. This consideration might 
 induce the Parisian public to defer till autumn the pleasure 
 of witnessing your performance, while, by going to 
 Brussels, where the theatres are large and airy, you would 
 have no reason to fear such a result. Come," the plenipo- 
 tentiary continued, in a most candid tone, " I must tell 
 you, without wishing to flatter you the least in the world, 
 that everybody is talking about you in Belgium ; I may 
 add, even, that the manager has been urged to make you 
 offers by a great number of his subscribers." 
 
 This flattering insinuation began to shake my decision, 
 and I offered in my defence reasons whose weakness only 
 attested to my indecision. My clever touter noticed this, 
 and thinking the moment arrived to strike his great blow, 
 said : — 
 
 " Do you know, sir, the probable proceeds of my offer?" 
 
 '' No, sir." 
 
 " Well, make an estimate." 
 
 "It is impossible." 
 
 " Then approximate." 
 
 "I must decline; for I understand nothing of such 
 calculations." 
 
 "Well, then, I understand them, and am rarely mis- 
 
208 MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOUDIK. 
 
 taken," said the agent, stroking his chin, " and I tell yon 
 it is an affair to you " (here my seducer stopped, as if to 
 make a most accurate calculation) — " an affair of one 
 hundred thousand francs." 
 
 "One hundred thousand francs!" T exclaimed, dazzled 
 at such a prospect; " you cannot mean it." 
 
 "It is precisely because I mean it that I tell you, and 
 repeat it again : you will clear one hundred thousand 
 francs by your trip. Add to this, the advantage of having 
 seen a splendid country, and being received with all the 
 attention due to an artist of your merit. You will then 
 return to your impatient spectators, whose curiosity, 
 heightened by their long privation, will produce you 
 receipts far more brilliant than any you might have 
 expected by remaining in Paris." 
 
 Being little conversant at that period with theatrical 
 matters, and having no reason to doubt the honesty of my 
 eloquent "humbugger," I easily believed his fine promises. 
 The chink of one hundred thousand francs still ringing 
 in my ears fascinated me ; and I gave way unconsciously 
 to the' same mode of reasoning the inkstand inventor 
 had employed. 
 
 "And, really," I said to myself, "supposing for in- 
 stance, that " And, leaping from supposition to sup- 
 position, my calculations exceeded those of the agent. 
 But, in order to be reasonable, I concluded, like my 
 friend the inventor, in this way : " Well, to prevent 
 any misunderstanding, suppose we say only fifty thou- 
 sand francs — surely nobody can accuse me with exag- 
 geration." 
 
 Though dazzled by this brilliant calculation, I strove 
 to conceal my desire of accepting the offer. 
 
 " It is all very well," I said, in my turn, after the style 
 of a perfect man of business, " but what are the conditions ?" 
 
 " Oh, most simple !" the crafty fellow said ; " the same 
 
 as are made with all distinguished artists. Monsieur X 
 
 will pay all the expenses, but to cover those, he will 
 deduct three hundred francs from the gross receipts, 
   exclusive of the claim of the poor, and the rest will be 
 fairly divided between him and yourself." 
 
THE AGREEMENT SIGNED. 209 
 
 " Still, I should like to know how much the sum to be 
 divided will amount to ?" 
 
 " How is it possible to say ?" the agent exclaimed, with 
 an aspect of the greatest sincerity. "With such success 
 as awaits you, it will be enormous." 
 
 In spite of my pressing, the agent always entrenched 
 himself in his exclamations, and the impossibility of making 
 such an estimate. Tired of the struggle, I at length formed 
 my decision. 
 
 " I will go to Brussels," I said, in a resolute tone. 
 
 The theatrical agent immediately drew from his pocket 
 a printed form, which he had brought in case of our com- 
 ing to terms, and we had only to add the stipulations to it, 
 
 " Tell me, sir," the manager's representative said, in a 
 conscientious tone, *' will you have any objection to a 
 forfeit of six thousand francs? As the engagement is 
 reciprocal, you must find this but fair." 
 
 I only saw in the agent's request a very natural desire 
 to defend his employer's interests ; and I drew this con- 
 clusion from it : if the agreement was advantageous for the 
 manager, it must be equally so for me, as we were to share 
 the receipts. I consented to the clause, and affixed my 
 signature. The agent could not repress his satisfaction, 
 but he cleverly ascribed it to the interest he felt in me. 
 
 " I congratulate you sincerely on the engagement you 
 have just made," he said, as he offered me his hand ; " you 
 will soon be able to tell me of the results you will draw 
 from it. By-the-way," he added, in a friendly tone, after 
 a pause, " will you now permit me to give you a piece of 
 advice ?" 
 
 " Certainly, sir — certainl3\" 
 
 " I would recommend you, then, to take a collection of 
 showy bills and posters with you to Belgium. They do 
 not know how to get them up in Brussels, and they will 
 produce a prodigious effect. It would be also as well to 
 have a handsome lithograph, representing your stage ; it 
 can be put up in the various picture-shops, and you will 
 obtain increased publicity." 
 
 These counsels, and the familiar, almost protecting, 
 tone in which they were given, appeared to me strange ; 
 
 P 
 
210 MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 and I could not refrain from expressing my surprise to the 
 man of business. 
 
 " What need of all these precautions ? I fancied I 
 understood you that " 
 
 " Good gracious me ! all professionals are alike," the 
 giver of advice interrupted me ; " absorbed in their art, 
 ■Siiey understand nothing of business. But, tell me, 
 Monsieur Robert-IIoudin, would you feel annoyed at net- 
 ting one hundred and fifty thousand francs, instead of the 
 one hundred thousand I promised you ?" 
 
 *' On my word, no," I said, with a smile ; '* and I con- 
 fess that, far from feeling vexed, I should be veiy pleased 
 at it." 
 
 " Well, then, the more you make yourself known, the 
 more you will add to the amount I stated." 
 
 " But I thought that notoriety was generally the busi- 
 ness of managers." 
 
 " Certainly, ordinary publicity, but not extraordinary. 
 You must see that is unlikely, as it will be all for your 
 advantage." 
 
 Though little conversant with business, as the agent had 
 just remarked, 1 saw that his arguments were not always in 
 accordance with logic. However, I consented to the posters 
 and the lithograph, in consideration of the promised results. 
 
 " That is right," the agent said, his familiarity sensibly 
 increasing since the signature of the contract—" that is 
 right : 'that is what I call managing things properly." 
 
 And my man left me, after complimenting me once more 
 on the arrangement I had made. 
 
 When left to myself, I indulged at my ease in day- 
 dreams about the magnificent result promised me, and this 
 anticipated joy was probably all I tasted from the moment of 
 signing this engagement to its termination. The first un- 
 pleasantness it occasioned me was a slight discussion with 
 my cashier, that is to say, my wife, who in consideration 
 of her employment, had a deliberative voice in all theatrical 
 matters. I could not certainly have found an employe of 
 greater probity, or a more devoted clerk, but I am bound 
 to say that this clerk, probably through her intimate con- 
 nection with her employer, sometimes ventured to con- 
 
A DISPUTE WITH MY CASHIER. 211 
 
 tradict him. Thus I fared when I described to that 
 functionary the brilliant perspective of my agreement. 
 
 Although I finished my statement with this harmonious 
 phrase, on every word of which I laid a heavy stress, in 
 order to give it more value, " and we shall return to France 
 with one — hundred — thousand — francs clear profit," my 
 wife, or rather my cashier, coolly said to me : 
 
 " Well, in your place, I should not have made such a 
 bargain." 
 
 " But why not ?" I said, piqued by this unexpected 
 opposition. 
 
 "Why? because nothing guarantees you the promised 
 profits, while you are perfectly certain as to your expenses." 
 
 Wishing to cut short a discussion from which I did not 
 see my way out with honour : 
 
 " Women are all alike," I said, employing the phrase of 
 the theatrical agent ; " understanding nothing of business, 
 they oppose one out of obstinacy. But," I added, tossing 
 my head, "we shall soon see which of us is in the right." 
 
 I confess that in this instance I allowed myself too easily 
 to be led astray by flattering illusions ; but I must add, 
 that it was for the last time ; for, thenceforth, I was so 
 sceptical as regarded calculations, that my modest expecta- 
 .tions always remained below the reality. 
 
 The period for starting soon arrived, and we made our 
 preparations with incredible activity, for I desired to lose 
 as little time as possible between the closing of my per- 
 formances at Paris and their commencement in Brussels. 
 
 The Great Northern line not being open at that period, 
 I was obliged to content myself with a post-chaise. Con- 
 sequently, I hired from a builder of public conveyances, 
 for two hundred francs a month, a diligence which had 
 formerly been used in the environs of Paris ; it was com- 
 posed of a coupe and a vast rotonde, over which was an 
 imperiale for the luggage. On the 25th of May, the day 
 fixed for our departure, my carriage was loaded with an 
 immense number of chests, containing my apparatus, and 
 after we had taken our places, the postilion's whip cracked, 
 and we started. 
 
 We took with us on this trip, besides my two boys who 
 
 p 2 
 
212 MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 performed with me, a manager, a workman, also acting as 
 servant, and my wife's mother, who came partly for 
 pleasure, and partly to help her daughter in her theatrical 
 details. Galloping through Paris, we soon left the 
 Faubourg and the Barriere St. Denis behind us. The 
 weather was splendid — a perfect spring evening ; my wife 
 and I, with the children, were comfortably established in 
 the coupe, and as it was Madame JRobert-Houdin's first 
 journey, she was so delighted with it, that I believe, if I 
 had then offered her the calculation of my presumed 
 profits, she would probably have herself augmented it. 
 For my own part, I was plunged in a delicious reverie. I 
 recalled my journey with Torrini, and while giving a 
 thought of regret to that excellent friend, I compared his 
 carriage with my brilliant equipage, his modest claims on 
 fortune with the magnificent prospects promised me ; and 
 I could not help yielding to a feeling of noble pride when 
 I remembered I owed this position solely to my labour and 
 to my energy. Then, finding myself freed from the 
 annoyance of any theatrical administration, and my in- 
 ventive ideas abandoned, I experienced an undefinablo 
 comfort, and were it not for the fear of making a pun, I 
 would add, at this moment I was really transported. 
 
 What would I have given to see myself thus bowling^ 
 along in my own carriage ! 1 fancied that the very pas- 
 sers-by "regarded us with a certain degree of satisfaction; 
 and in this infantile illusion I smiled upon them most 
 benignantly. 
 
 At some distance from the barrier we stopped. 
 
 " Will you please to get out and have your carriage 
 weighed? Here is the office." 
 
 "Before proceeding to weigh," the receiver of the 
 toll said, approaching me, " I warn you that I shall sum- 
 mons you for carrying a heavier weight than the law 
 allows." 
 
 I could not appeal to my ignorance of this, for no one 
 ought to be ignorant of the law ; I therefore submitted 
 philosophically enough to the threatened summons, and 
 we soon recommenced our journey, laughing heartily at the 
 incident. The shades of night began to cover the country 
 
A NARROW ESCAPE. 213 
 
 when we reached the environs of Senlis. An old beggar, 
 seeing us approaching, held out his hat ; I understood this 
 expressive gesture, and had the satisfaction of doing a 
 clever trick and a good action at the same time; for I 
 threw out a penny, which fell in his hat. 
 
 I had hardly executed this adroit manoeuvre, when cries 
 •of " Stop ! stop !" reached my ear ; and at the same time I 
 saw the old man running panting after the carriage, and 
 shouting. The postilion at length stopped the horses, and 
 he was just in time — a few paces further on, and our heavy 
 carriage would hglve been upset. The worthy beggar had 
 perceived that <.me of our wheels was on the point of losing 
 its tire, and as the old man in his haste had lost his coin, 
 and was beginning to look for it, I spared him this trouble 
 by giving him a five-franc piece. 
 
 How true it is that an act of kindness is never lost ; to a 
 simple penny we owed our escape from an accident, the 
 consequences of which would have been incalculable. A 
 neighbouring cartwright soon came up and told us it was 
 necessary to have the two wheels of the carriage repaired ; 
 and he gave us the following explanation of the accident 
 that had occurred : 
 
 The diligence had been standing for a long time in a 
 damp coach-house, and the felloes had swollen. The heat 
 produced by our rapid locomotion had dried them, and 
 they had caught fire under the tire. The operation lasted 
 four hours, and cost me forty francs ; this was, perhaps, 
 twenty more than it was worth, but what could I do but 
 pay, as I should have lost precious time by appealing to the 
 iaw? 
 
 I was beginning to understand that travelling impres- 
 sions in a diligence are not at all of a nature to enrich 
 u traveller ; but the reflection came too late, and I could 
 ■only continue my journey. I therefore did so, not very 
 gaily, perhaps, but at any rate with a degree of careless 
 resignation. 
 
 I will pass over the details of a thousand petty miseries 
 we had to undergo, like so many pin-pricks echeloned 
 on our passage to prepare us for more bitter deceptions. 
 We at length reached Quievrain, the frontier town of 
 
214 MEMOjmS OP ROBERT-HOUniN. 
 
 Belgium, where we were to give up our horses and put 
 our carriage on the railway running to Brussels ; before- 
 hand, however, we had to endure the formalities of th©:. 
 custom-house. 
 
 I hoped, as the theatrical agent had informed me, to 
 pass all my traps simimarily, by declaring the nature of 
 my apparatus, and hence I went to the office and made my 
 declaration. 
 
 "There is only one way of passing your luggage, sir,"" 
 a clerk said to me, very politely. (Belgian officials are- 
 generally very gentle and civil — at least I always found 
 them so.) 
 
 " Then," I replied, in the same tone, " will you have thfr 
 kindness, sir, to tell me the way, that I may profit by it as 
 speedily as possible ?" 
 
 " You must unpack your instruments, put an ad valorem 
 duty on them, which the comptroller will verify, and pay 
 26 per cent, on the amount, after which you can start as* 
 soon as jou please." 
 
 " But, sir, that is not possible," I said, greatly annoyed 
 at this contretemps. 
 
 *' And why not ?" 
 
 *' Because my instruments are not merchandise." 
 
 I then explained to my clerk that I was going to Brus- 
 sels to give some performances, after which I intended to 
 return to France with the same luggage. According to 
 the information the official gave me, it seems T had 
 neglected to fulfil a simple formality, through the want of 
 which the office at Quievrain would not let me go on without 
 payment. To pass my instniments duty free, I ought to 
 have applied to the Belgian Minister, who would willingly 
 have granted me the pennission. I could certainly do so 
 still, but I could not receive an answer under a week, and 
 that was just three days after the period fixed for my com- 
 mencing at Brussels. 
 
 Hence I found myself between the horns of a dilemma. I 
 must either, after paying a heavy duty, lose precious time 
 in packing, valuing, and unpacking, my instruments, of 
 forfeit six thousand francs to my manager while awaiting a 
 ministerial reply. Although I made all sorts of sup- 
 
THE DIRECTOR OF CUSTOMS. 215 
 
 plications to the different customs officials, I could only 
 obtain this answer, dictated by their inflexible ordei-s, " We 
 can do nothing." 
 
 I was in despair ; in vain, conforming to the maxim, " It 
 is better to address the king than his ofiicials," I pursued 
 the director himself with my entreaties ; he would not hear 
 a word. He was a stout good-looking man, of some fifty 
 years of age, dressed in an enormous paletot, much resem- 
 bling in cut the one I have described as my costume when 
 learning my sleight-of-hand tricks at Tours. 
 
 We were both standing at the door of the custom-house, 
 liear the high road, where my chests had been deposited. 
 Wearied with listening to my eternal remonstrances, the 
 director began talking to me about indifferent matters; 
 but I always led the conversation back to the same sub- 
 ject. 
 
 " You are a prestidigator, then?" my stout Belgian said 
 to me, laying a stress on this word, to prove to me that 
 he knew the pompous title by which the juggler is distin- 
 guished. 
 
 " Yes, sir, that is my profession." 
 
 " Ah, ah ! very good ; I know several celebrities in that 
 art. I have even witnessed their performances with a great 
 deal of pleasure." 
 
 While my amateur was thus talking, an idea occurred to 
 me, which I immediately put in execution, for I trusted 
 the result of it would powerfully aid in favouring my 
 entreaties. 
 
 " What are your most striking tricks ?" the stout man 
 added, in the tone of a perfect connoisseur. 
 
 " I really cannot describe them to you, it would be too 
 difficult. There is one which can only be appreciated 
 when seen ; but I can easily give you a specimen." 
 
 " I should much like it, if you would," the official said, 
 not sorry thus to console himself for the trouble I had 
 caused him. My son, at this moment, was playing some 
 distance off on the high road, and kicking a pebble 
 about. 
 
 " Emile !" I cried, hailing him, " can you tell us what 
 this gentleman has in his pocket ?" 
 
216 MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 "Certainly!" the boy replied, without leaving off his 
 game ; " he has a blue-striped handkerchief." 
 
 "Oh, oh!" the stout gentleman said, with an air of 
 astonishment. Then he recovered, and putting his hands 
 in both pockets to conceal their contents, 
 
 " That's all very good !" he added, with an air of doubt ; 
 *' but chance may have aided that discovery." 
 
 After a slight pause, during which he seemed consider- 
 ably bothered, he continued : 
 
 "Can he tell me, though, what is under the hand- 
 kerchief?" 
 
 " The gentleman asks what is under the handkerchief?" 
 I shouted to my son. 
 
 " There is," he replied, in the same loud voice, " a green 
 morocco spectacle-case, without the spectacles." 
 
 " That's really curious — very curious !" said the man of 
 the paletot. " But," he added, shrugging his shoulders, 
 *' I should much like him to mention the article under the 
 spectacle-case." 
 
 And my incredulous friend shoved his hands in his 
 pockets. I drew a good omen from this last exclamation, 
 and so, desirous to insure my success, I took my precau- 
 tions that my son should answer correctly, and I trans- 
 mitted him the question just asked me. 
 
 Emile, who had not left oif his game for a moment, 
 exclaimed, as if anxious to get rid of us, "It is a piece of 
 sugar which the gentleman saved from his cup of coifee." 
 
 " Ah ! that is too fine ?" the director exclaimed, in a 
 tone of admiration ; " the lad is a sorcerer." 
 
 My second sight performance was at an end ; still I 
 saw with pleasure that it produced a lively impression on 
 the director of the customs, who, after some moments' 
 reflection, himself returned to the subject we had left. 
 
 " Come, sir," he remarked, " I will infringe my regula- 
 tions for your sake. We will not open your chests ; I will 
 rely on your statement of their contents and value, and you 
 will pay the duty according to the tariff. When you 
 have reached Brussels, and have obtained the ministerial 
 authority to introduce your instruments duty free, I will 
 return you the money you have paid." 
 
A FRIEND IN NEED. 217 
 
 I thanked my new protector, and, a few hours later, 
 personnel and luggage had reached the station at Bi-ussels. 
 
 Before leaving Qnievrain for ever, I will give my reader 
 an idea of the conjuring trick which enabled me to produce 
 those startling instances of second sight to which I owed 
 my deliverance. 
 
 I have already said that the director wore a paletot, with 
 large pockets, so, profiting by the art by which I had so 
 cleverly emptied Corate's pockets some time before, I found 
 out what he had in them, and my son consequently learned 
 it from me. As for the piece of sugar, it was easy enough 
 to perceive by its regular shape that it had come from a 
 csiU — besides, I could have no doubt that a lump of sugar, 
 taken from the pocket of a man of fifty, and, above all, a 
 Belgian, must be saved from his after-dinner coifee. 
 
 At the Brussels station, a postilion who had three horses 
 out of work, offered to take our heavy carriage to the 
 Tirlemont Hotel, and I consented, for I really knew not 
 what hotel to go to. After driving through the city at full 
 speed, we entered a winding street, in the midst of which 
 our driver began smacking his whip loudly to announce 
 our arrival, and with the skill of a practised driver, he 
 turned into an archway that opened on to the hotel yard. 
 We made a princely entree here, which reminded me of 
 our departure from Paris, for the master of the hotel, his 
 wife, and the servants, were all at their posts ready to 
 receive us worthily, \Ye had gone safely through about 
 half the narrow entry, when our vehicle suddenly stopped, 
 as if riveted to the pavement : blows fell like hail on the 
 unhappy steeds, but these, though accompanied by vigorous 
 oaths and stimulants of every description, could not con- 
 quer the unknown obstacle. 
 
 Being quite convinced that the road was clear on either 
 side, our postilion decided on trying a final effort : so he 
 got down rapidly from his seat, took the horses by the bit, 
 and drew them forward sharply. The carriage appeared 
 to yield to this powerful attraction, and began to move 
 slowly. All at once a sound of breaking was heard, while 
 at the same moment cries of alarm issued from both com- 
 partments of the carriage. 
 
218 MEMOmS OF ROBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 The doors were humedly opened, women and children 
 emerged, and the last of our party was still on the step, 
 when the imperiale gave way, and the numerous heavy 
 trunks crashed into the centre of the carriage. In the 
 emotion produced by such danger, I looked round my 
 party, and, thanks to Heaven, we were all safe and sound. 
 
 My wife and children were carefully attended to, while 
 I, though not entirely recovered from my terror, sought 
 the cause of this unforeseen catastrophe. 1 soon discovered 
 that our carnage, being too highly loaded, had caught in 
 the projecting sides of the archway, and that this gradual 
 and powerful pressure had forced the mouldering frame- 
 work of our old vehicle to give way. 
 
 In comparison with the misfortune from which we had 
 so miraculously escaped, the injury to the carriage was an 
 accident of no importance — a loss which would be quickly 
 forgotten in the success that awaited us. The carriage 
 was sent to be repaired, and the accident was soon a thing 
 of the past, as we sought to recover from the fatigue of our 
 long and wearying journey. 
 
 My first walk in Brussels led me straight to the manager, 
 who appeared delighted at my keeping my word, and gave 
 me a most polite reception : thence I proceeded to the 
 Park Theatre, where I was to give my performances. 
 
 This building, lately destroyed by fire, was situated on 
 one of the most agreeable sites in the city, for it formed the 
 angle of a magnificent park, which is to Brussels what the 
 Tuileries are to Paris. 
 
 During the summer no theatrical performance took place, 
 and it was to fill up this gap that the engagement had been 
 formed with me. 
 
 This theatre was city property, and I learaed the fact in 
 the following way. The porter, whom the manager ought 
 to have recommended to give me all necessary information, 
 stated to me that he was attached to the theatre, both as 
 keeper and head machinist. He also told me, with pedantic 
 gravity, that I could not drive in a nail, form an opening 
 in the stage, or, in a word, make the slightest change, until 
 he, as responsible official, had referred the point to the city 
 architect. 
 
A GREAT MAN. 219 
 
 •* Such, supervision is not possible," I said to this im- 
 portant parsonage. " How do you manage, then, when 
 the theatrical performances are on ?" 
 
 *' Ah, that is different. As the architect places con- 
 fidence in me, he allows me to do whatever I think proper, 
 and I am responsible for everything." 
 
 " If that is all, I can take the responsibility on myself, 
 and the matter can be settled at once." 
 
 '* If you think so," the porter replied in an ironical tone, 
 " you can apply to the city authorities : the council will 
 take it into consideration, and you will receive permission 
 in a fortnight." 
 
 I saw that the crafty gentleman wished to force himself 
 upon me, but I soon destroyed his hopes by making him 
 understand I would allow no stranger to be initiated into 
 my mysterious arrangements. 
 
 This conversation liad taken place on the stage, by the 
 light of a candle which the conservator of the royal theatre 
 held in his hand, but so soon as I had intimated my inten- 
 tion of doing without him, he turned on his heel and 
 retired to his den, leaving us in perfect darkness. 
 
 " Wait a moment, sir," I cried to him ; "we cannot be 
 groping about in this way ; so open the windows." 
 
 " Windows !" the machinist said, with a laugh ; " who 
 ever heard of windows in a theatre? What use would 
 they be when the rehearsals always take place by candle- 
 light?" 
 
 '* Excellently reasoned, my worthy man," I replied, 
 checking my inclination to laugh ; " I always thought like 
 you that windows could be done without if you had lights, 
 but when you have no lights " 
 
 " Why, then, you do as I do, you go money in hand to 
 the grocer's and buy candles ; I see no difficulty in that." 
 
 And, while making this reply, the porter and his candle 
 were gradually eclipsed. I had no time to lose in arguing, 
 and besides, this man, whom I would have gladly brought 
 to his senses under other circumstances, might play me 
 some trick that might prevent me performing mine. My 
 instruments would remain, so to speak, at his mercy during 
 the night, and he would have all possible facility to do 
 
220 MEMOIRS OF ROBEET-HOUDIN. 
 
 me some injury, which ho cduld deny in safety. Hence, I 
 eent my servant straight to the grocer's, that natural pro- 
 vidence of any one who wants a light. 
 
 All my readers have probably read descriptions of 
 theatrical interiors, and they are all much alike, although 
 their cleanliness and arrangement vary according to the 
 intelligence of the stage manager. Nor is the same luxury 
 of decorations and accessories visible in all theatres ; some 
 are literally encumbered with them, while others are 
 almost entirely wanting in these qualities. 
 
 I remember that, when giving a dozen performances at 
 Chester, I found the theatrical decorations charmingly 
 original. Properly speaking, there was only one scene ; 
 but, as it would have been impossible to produce the scenic 
 effect with this, the machinist had very cleverly painted a 
 forest on the back, and the scene moved on a pivot, which 
 my friend turned by the aid of a winch, and thus could 
 display a hall or a forest at will. 
 
 With such feeble resources, the scenic illusion was often 
 compromised, but, according to the machinist, the actors 
 corrected any glaring anachronisms of place by ingenious 
 new readings, and sometimes, too, by the expression of their 
 faces. 
 
 This machinist was like his scenery, for he filled many 
 parts ; he was in turn porter, painter, wig-maker, property 
 man, tailor, and ticket-taker ; but with so many strings to 
 his bow this worthy man found himself out of work during 
 three parts of the year, for during that period there were 
 no performances at Chester. 
 
 But to return to the porter, machinist, and keeper 
 of the Park Theatre. This man could never forgive my 
 refusal of his services, and his impertinence and ill-will 
 pursued me to the close, and occasioned me continual 
 annoyance ; and although I complained to the manager, 
 I could obtain no redress. The porter being paid by 
 |>;ovemment, claimed the right, like his brethren the 
 porters of Paris, of making his tenants feel his power and 
 his independence. 
 
 I have performed in many royal theatres, but I never 
 tad to deal with any but most polite machinists and 
 
MY BRILLIANT DEBUT. 221 
 
 managers, who could flatter themselves they were masters 
 in their own house. 
 
 However, I managed to surmount difficulties of every 
 description, and the day of my first representation ar- 
 rived. 
 
 On this very day was opened that fiery furnace which 
 was called " the summer of 1846 ;" and the heat was 
 astounding. Still, the theatre was full, and the success of 
 my experiments was as great as I could desire. The 
 second sight, especially, produced an enthusiasm which 
 the generally cold inhabitants of Brussels expressed by 
 noisy bravos. 
 
 I was proud and happy, for, in addition to the satisfac- 
 tion success always produces, I foresaw the realization 
 of the theatrical agent's brilliant promises. Thus, to 
 take a slight revenge for my cashier's obstinacy, I never 
 failed, each time I left the stage, to say to her in a tone 
 of triumph : 
 
 "Well! do you believe in the one hundred thousand 
 francs now ? That's how I like business." 
 
 And I returned on the stage with a smiling and animated 
 face. 
 
 The performance over, the curtain fell on the illusions I 
 had produced, as well as on those I had nursed as to my 
 receipts. They were equally ephemeral in either case, for 
 I had scarcely left the stage when I saw my manager 
 coming towards me in the attitude once assumed by the 
 steeds of Hippolytus, according to Theramene's recital. 
 He, so joyous at the commencement of the performance, 
 
 L'ceil mome maintenant et la tete baissee, 
 Semblait se conformer h, sa triste pense'e. 
 
 "Here, sir," he said, pointing to a small rouleau, "is 
 your share." 
 
 "What! my share?" I exclaimed, in a tone of in- 
 describable disappointment ; " and the rest ?" 
 
 " The rest, sir, has gone in the expenses, and the poor- 
 rate." 
 
 "But the rest," I still insisted— " the rest, what has 
 become of it ?" 
 
222 MEMOIKS OF ROBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 ** Well, sir," my manager replied, in a lamentable tone, 
 " the cashier states that the greater part of the audience 
 received free admissions." 
 
 Irritated by such an explanation, I hurried to the office, 
 and opened and closed the door violently. The employe 
 turned towards me, and without being affected by my 
 abruptness, he bowed to me politely (another instance of 
 Belgian courtesy). 
 
 "How is it," I said, without replying to his bow, 
 **that so many free admissions were given without my 
 sanction ?" 
 
 *' They were given, sir, by the manager's orders," the 
 man replied, with a calmness that made me believe he was 
 used to such scenes, " and you must be aware," he added, 
 in a conciliatory tone, " that there are numerous claims on 
 the first night of a new performance at a royal theatre. 
 Thus we have, for instance, the authorities, the city archi- 
 tect, the manager of the gas company, the newspaper 
 writers, the manager's relations and friends, the police 
 inspector, who has a right to a box ; and all these gentle- 
 men, as you may suppose, bring their families with them. 
 We have, again " 
 
 "Oh, sir," I replied, ironically, "for goodness' sake, 
 stop, for if you go on at that rate I shall begin to fear you 
 had not a seat left for the paying public. To-morrow, I 
 presume, I shall have to hand you back the modest sum 
 you have just sent me. However, I shall certainly insist 
 on an explanation with the manager." 
 
 The next day I proceeded to call on M. X , with 
 
 the firm intention of evincing to him my dissatisfaction ; 
 but he was so ready with his explanations that I could 
 not be angry, and we ended by agreeing that, hence- 
 forth, all free admissions should have my signature, and 
 that they should not be dispensed quite so liberally. 
 
 This measure, perhaps, checked some new abuses, but 
 was not enough to suppress them all, for though the theatre 
 grew more and more crowded, my strong-box did not 
 follow the same progression. 
 
 Far from netting the fabulous sum which had so dazzled 
 me, I only brought back from my trip to Brussels an 
 
RETURN TO PARIS. 223 
 
 illusion dispelled and experience, while, as my cashier 
 had predicted, my expenses rather more than balanced my 
 receipts. 
 
 I have great reason for believing that, during my stay 
 at the Park Theatre, I was cheated out of my proper share. 
 It was my first affair of the kind, and I was obliged to 
 study at my own expense ; but from that period I was on 
 my guard, and evaded every attempt at fraud. I will add, 
 too, that at a later date I had the satisfaction of dealing 
 only with managers of well-known probity, to whom I 
 gave my entire confidence without ever having any reason 
 to regret it. 
 
 CHAPTEK XVI. 
 
 Eeopening of my Fantastic Soirees— Minor Miseries of Good Luck — 
 Inconvenience of a small Theatre — My Koom taken by Storm— A 
 gratuitous Performance — A conscientious Audience — Pleasant Story 
 about a Black Silk Cap— I perform at the Chateau of St. Cloud — 
 Cagliostro's Casket— HoUdays. 
 
 The recommencement of the performances on my own 
 stage largely recompensed me for my bitter impressions de 
 voyage. My room was taken a week beforehand for my 
 first performance, as well as for the following, and I 
 had to send away four times as many persons as I could 
 receive. 
 
 This success had been foreseen by the theatrical agent, 
 and I owed it as much to my absence from the capital as 
 to the attraction my experiments held out. My repertory 
 was still a novelty to the Parisian public, as I had started 
 for Brussels at the height of my success. This did not 
 prevent me, however, from offering some new tricks, one 
 of which more especially produced a striking effect. 
 
 After my son had mounted on a very small table, I 
 covered him with an enormous stuff cone, which concealed 
 him from sight, and then, at the sound of a pistol, the 
 cone was thrown over, and at the same instant the lad 
 appeared at my side. Afterwards, in large theatres, and 
 
224 MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 specially in London, this trick was improved upon, and 
 seemed more marvellous still. Instead of appearing by 
 my side, the boy was instantaneously transported to a box 
 at a long distance from the stage, where everybody could 
 easily see him. 
 
 It is a well-known fact that a man cannot enjoy 
 perfect happiness in this world, and that the greatest pros- 
 perity has its disagreeable side; this is what is called 
 " the minor evils of good luck." One of my special an- 
 noyances was having a room much too small, which dis- 
 abled me from satisfying all the demands made for places, 
 and, though I racked my brain, I could hit on no 
 expedient to remedy this inconvenience. 
 
 As I have already said, my room was often taken before- 
 hand ; in that case the office was not opened, and a placard 
 on the door announced it was useless for any non-holders 
 of tickets to apply. But it daily happened that persons, 
 annoyed at being unable to enjoy a promised treat, took no 
 heed of the notice, and went straight to the pay place. On 
 being refused admission, they abused the money-taker, and 
 still more the management. 
 
 These complaints were generally absurd, and of the fol- 
 lowing description : — 
 
 " Such an abuse is most improper," one of these disap- 
 pointed persons said, with great simplicity ; " I will cer- 
 tainly go to-morrow and complain to the prefect of police, 
 and we shall see whether Monsieur Kobert-Houdin has a 
 right to have too small a theatre." 
 
 When these recriminations went no further, I confess I 
 laughed at them, but they did not always end in such a 
 pacific manner. My employes were sometimes personally 
 attacked, and on one occasion my theatre was taken by 
 storm. The story is worth telling. 
 
 One evening a dozen young men, after heating their 
 brains by an excellent dinner, presented themselves at the 
 door of my theatre ; the notice they read only appeared to 
 them an excellent jest. Consequently, paying no attention 
 to the observations made to them, they collected round the 
 door, and, to employ the usual expression in such cases, 
 they began to form " the head of the tail." Other visitors, 
 
A SUDDEN INVASION. 225 
 
 encouraged by their example, collected, and gradually a 
 considerable crowd assembled in front of the theatre. 
 
 The manager, informed of what was happening, came 
 forward, and prepared to address the crowd fiom the head 
 of the stairs, after coughing to render his voice clearer. 
 But he had scarce commenced his address, when his voice 
 was drowned by derisive laughter and shouts, which com- 
 pelled his silence. In his despair, he came to tell me the 
 dilemma, and asked what he had better do. 
 
 " Do not disturb yourself," I said ; " all will end better 
 than you expect. Stay," 1 added, looking at my watch ; 
 "it is now half-past seven, and the ticket-holders will 
 begin to arrive; so, open the doors, and, as soon as the 
 room is full, the public outside will be compelled to abandon 
 the ground." 
 
 1 had scarcely uttered the words, when a servant came 
 in all haste to tell me that the crowd had broken down the 
 barrier, and rushed into the room, I hastened on to the 
 stage, and, through the hole in the curtain, could assure 
 myself of the truth of the statement: the room was 
 full. 
 
 I confess I was much embarrassed as to what I should 
 do. To have the room cleared by the neighbouring guard 
 was a scandal I wished to avoid, and I could not calculate 
 the consequences. Besides, if the police interfered, I 
 should have to attend at the court, and thus lose precious 
 time. Lastly, the Prefecture, which had hitherto imposed 
 but a single sentry on me, would not fail to send a cor- 
 poral's guard, at least, to the great increase of my daily 
 expenses. 
 
 I immediately formed a decision. 
 
 " Have the doors closed," I said to my manager, " and 
 put up a notice that, owing to a sudden indisposition, the 
 evening's performance is postponed till to-morrow. As 
 this measure applies to the ticket-holders, be in readiness 
 to return the money to those who will not exchange their 
 tickets. As for me," I continued, " I have made up my 
 mind. I will give a gratis performance, and my revenge 
 will consist in compelling the public to be ashamed of the 
 schoolboy trick they have played." 
 
 Q 
 
226   mf: MO Ills of robert-houdin. 
 
 This plan arranged, I prepared to do the honours of my 
 house properly, and the curtain soon rose. 
 
 When I appeared on the stage, 1 noticed that the greater 
 number of the spectators evinced considerable embarrass- 
 ment ; still, I soon put them at their ease by the nonchalant 
 air I assumed, as if ignorant of what had occurred. I did 
 even more. I perfoiTiied with an unusual amount of dash : 
 and when the time arrived to offer my small presents, I 
 was so liberal with them that not a single spectator was 
 overlooked. 
 
 I need not say that I was heartily applauded. The 
 public vied with me in " reciprocating" compliments, and 
 thus hoped to compensate me for the annoyance they 
 fancied they had caused me. 
 
 An original and extremely comic scene was performed 
 when my audience lingeringly departed. 
 
 Nearly all the persons present had only seen in this 
 assault on my room a means to obtain places, and each 
 intended to pay for his seat after having occupied it. 
 
 But, for my part, I determined on maintaining the 
 original character of my gratuitous performance, even if 
 my pocket suffered. Thus, foreseeing this feeling of 
 delicacy, I had ordered all my attendants to leave before 
 the performance was over, and they had obeyed me so 
 well, that manager, money-taker, and box-openers had 
 disappeared. 
 
 I then posted myself where I could see everything 
 without being noticed. The spectators looked for the 
 office ; searched all around to find some official ; thrust 
 their hands in their pockets, and collected in small groups, 
 until, worn out, they went away. 
 
 Still, the public would not allow themselves to be 
 beaten, and for several days I had a regular procession 
 of people coming to i)ay their debt. Some persons added 
 their apologies, and I also received by post a note for 
 100 fr., with the following letter : — 
 
 " Sir, 
 
 Having been dragged into your room last night by a party of 
 thoughtless young men, I tried in vain, after the performance, to pay 
 for the seat I had occupied. 
 
DANTAN THE SCULPTOR. 227 
 
 " I do not wish, however, to quit France without paying the debt I 
 lave contracted. In consequence, estimating the price of my stall by 
 the pleasure you caused me, I send you a hundred-franc note, which 
 I beg you to accept in payment of the debt I involuntarily contracted, 
 
 *' Still, I should not consider myself out of your debt were I not also 
 to offer you my compliments for your interesting performance, and beg 
 you to accept, sir, the assurance of my consideration." 
 
 As the loss entailed on me by the assault on my room 
 was light, I had no cause to repent the decision I had 
 formed. On the other hand, the adventure became known, 
 and added still more to my credit, as it is notorious the 
 public prefer going to theatres where they are certain of 
 finding no room. 
 
 As a general rule, family parties came to see me, but 
 it was not unusual for a number of persons to form a 
 rendezvous at my theatre. The following incident will 
 offer an instance : — 
 
 The ingenious author of those eccentric caricatures, 
 which delight everybody who is not himself attacked, 
 Dantan the younger, came one day to my box-office. 
 
 " Madam," he said to the lady in command, " how many 
 stalls have you to let ?" 
 
 " I will consult my book," the lady replied. " Do you 
 wish them for to-night ?" 
 
 " No, madam, for this day week." 
 
 " Oh, in that case, you can have as many as you like." 
 
 " How, as many as I like ?" Why, your room must be 
 made of india-rubber ?" 
 
 "No, sir, I merely mean to say that of fifty stalls I 
 have at my disposal, you can take as many as you 
 please." 
 
 " Very good, madam, I now understand," Dantan con- 
 tinued, laughingly ; " then, if I can have as many as I 
 please, have the goodness to keep me sixty." 
 
 The lady, much embarrassed to solve this problem, sent 
 for me, and I easily arranged the affair by converting the 
 first pit row into stalls. 
 
 The reason why the sculptor required so many seats 
 was as follows : — 
 
 Dantan, junior, has an enormous number of friends, and 
 
 q2 
 
228 MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 the original idea had occnn*ed to him of inviting a certain 
 number of them to Robert-Hoiidin's performance, and for 
 that purpose he had engaged these sixty seats. 
 
 I have mentioned this incident, because it both proves 
 the renown my theatre enjoyed at that time, and reminds 
 me of the commencement of one of the most agreeable 
 acquaintances I ever made in my life. From this moment 
 I became, and have always remained, one of the intimate 
 friends of the celebrated sculptor. 
 
 Before knowing him personally, like the majority of 
 his admirers, I was unacquainted with his serious works, 
 but when I was admitted to his studio, I could appreciate 
 the full extent of his talent. 
 
 Dantan has in this room, arranged on enormous shelves, 
 the most perfect collection of busts of contemporary 
 celebrities, I do not think a single illustrious person 
 of the age is missing. Each is properly classified and 
 arranged as in a museum ; monarchs and statesmen, less 
 numerous than the others, are collected on one shelf ; then 
 come authors, musicians, singers, composers, physicians, 
 warriors, dramatic artists — in a word, great men of everj'- 
 description and country. But the most interesting thing 
 in the gallery is that every bust is accompanied by its 
 caricature, so that, after admiring the original, you laugh 
 heartily at noticing all the comic details of the other. 
 
 On seeing these numberless heads, it is difficult to 
 imagine that one man's life could suffice for such a toil. 
 Dantan, however, has a remarkable talent in catching the 
 characteristic features of a face, and often enough he need 
 only see a person once in order to produce an extraordinary 
 likeness. Witness the following fact, which I will cite 
 as much for its singularity as because it bears an affinity, 
 in some degree, to sleight of hand : — 
 
 The son of Lieu tenant-General Baron D came one 
 
 day to Dantan, begging him to make a bust of his father. 
 " I will not hide from you," he said to the artist, " that 
 you will encounter an almost insurmountable difficulty in 
 performing your task. Not only would the general never 
 consent to sit to you, but you cannot even be introduced to 
 
A CLEVER TRICK. 229 
 
 him at home. As ray father has been ill for many years, 
 he sees no other persons than his servants, and he keeps 
 almost always alone. Hence, you will have to manage 
 to catch a glimpse at him unawares, but I do not know 
 how." 
 
 " Does your father never go out ?" the sculptor asked. 
 " Oh, yes, sir ; every afternoon at four my father takes 
 the 'bus and goes to read the papers at a room in the Place 
 do la Madeleine, after which he comes back and shuts 
 himself up again." 
 
 " I require no more," the artist said. " I will begin 
 making my observations to-day, and set to work to-mor- 
 row." 
 
 In fact, at four o'clock precisely, Dantan posted himself 
 before a house fonning the corner of the Boulevards and 
 the Eue Louis-le-Grand, and soon saw the general come 
 out and walk to an omnibus. The sculptor followed his 
 model and entered the vehicle with him, but, unfortunately, 
 the only two seats vacant were on the same side, and the 
 artist could only make profile studies, being very careful 
 not to attract attention. 
 
 At last the 'bus stopped before the Madeleine church ; 
 pursuer and pursued went in together to the same reading- 
 room, where each took up his favourite paper, and was 
 soon lost in the perusal. 
 
 Dantan had taken a seat opposite the general, and, while 
 apparently absorbed in a leader, took stealthy glances at 
 his model. 
 
 All was going on favourably, and the artist continued 
 his studies quietly for some moments, until the general, 
 already surprised that his fellow-passenger should come 
 to the same reading-room, caught his eye fixed upon him- 
 self. 
 
 Annoyed by this impertinent curiosity, for which he 
 could assign no reason, he attempted to foil it by forming a 
 rampart of his enormous paper. 
 
 The face of the old baron disappeared, but the top of his 
 head was still visible, and Dantan would have been able 
 to continue his task satisfactorily, had it not been for a 
 frightful silk cap he wore. 
 
230 MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOUDIN. ' 
 
 Many a conjuror, even the most famous, would have 
 been checked by such a difficulty ; but Dantan did not long 
 rack his brains, which renders his trick only the more 
 striking. 
 
 He went up to the lady at the counter, spoke with her 
 for a few moments, and then quietly returned to his post 
 of observation. 
 
 It is necessary to state that the reading-room, heated by 
 a large stove, was already quite warm enough ; but sud- 
 denly an insupportable degree of heat filled the room, and 
 drops of perspiration stood on the foreheads of several per- 
 sons. 
 
 The general, who at this moment held ihe Gazette des 
 Trihunaux in his hand, and was doubtlessly amusing him- 
 self with some lugubrious drama, was one of the last to 
 notice the heightened temperature. Even he, though, at 
 length found it necessary to remove his silk cap, and put 
 it in his pocket, growling, " Confound it, how hot the room 
 is!" 
 
 The trick was done. 
 
 The reader has already guessed that the clever sculptoi? 
 was the cause of this vapour-bath, which he induced the 
 lady to produce by explaining to her his important mis- 
 sion. 
 
 This result once obtained, Dantan hastily made his 
 phrenological studies on the venerable head of the old 
 warrior ; then, rising from the table, he cast a final glance 
 over his features, photographed him, so to speak, in his 
 mind, and ran oif to set to work. 
 
 A short time after, the sculptor sent the general's family 
 the most perfect bust possibly ever produced by his chisel. 
 
 Here I will close the parenthesis I commenced with 
 reference to the evils the smallness of my theatre entailed 
 on me ; and I will now begin another about the pleasures 
 my success procured me. 
 
 At the beginning of November I received a " command " 
 to St. Cloud, to give a performance before Louis Philippe 
 and his family. I accepted the invitation with the greatest 
 pleasure ; for as I had never yet performed before a 
 crowned head, this was an important event for me. 
 
ST. CLOUD. 231 
 
 I had six days before me to make my preparations, and 
 I took all possible pains, even arranging a trick for the 
 •occasion, from which I had reason to expect an excellent 
 result. 
 
 On the day fixed for my performance, a fonrgon came at 
 an early hour to fetch me and my apparatus, and we were 
 conveyed to the chateau. A theatre had been put up in a 
 large hall selected by the king for the representation, and 
 in order that I might not be disturbed in my preparations, 
 a guard was placed at one of the doors leading into the 
 •corridor. I also noticed three other doors in this apart- 
 ment; one, composed of glass, opened on to the garden 
 opposite a passage filled with splendid orange-trees ; the 
 two others, to the right and left, communicated with the 
 ^apartments of the king and the Duchess of Orleans. 
 
 I was busy arranging my apparatus, when I heard one of 
 the doors I have just mentioned open quietly, and directly 
 a voice made the following inquiry in the most affable man- 
 ner : — 
 
 *' Monsieur Eobert-Houdin, may I be permitted to come 
 in?" 
 
 I turned my head in the direction, and recognized the 
 king, who, having asked this question merely as a form of 
 introduction, had not waited for my reply to walk towards 
 me. 
 
 I bowed respectfully. 
 
 " Have you all you require for your preparations?" the 
 king asked me. 
 
 " Yes, sire ; the steward of the chateau supplied me with 
 •skilled workmen, who speedily put up this little stage." 
 
 My tables, consoles, and tabourets, as well as the various 
 instruments for my performance, symmetrically arranged 
 on the stage, already presented an elegant appearance. 
 
 " This is all very pretty," the king said to me, drawing 
 near the stage, and casting a stealthy glance on some of 
 my apparatus ; " I see with pleasure that the artist of 1846 
 will justify the good opinion produced by the mechanician 
 of 1844." 
 
 *' Sire," I replied, " on this day I will strive, as I did two 
 ■years ago, to render myself worthy of the great favour your 
 
232 MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOUDIN'. 
 
 majesty deigns to bestow on me, by witnessing my per- 
 formance." 
 
 " Your son's second sight is said to be very surprising,"^ 
 the king continued; " but I warn you, Monsieur Eobert- 
 Houdin, to be on your guard, for we intend to cause you 
 considerable difficulties." 
 
 " Sire," I replied boldly, " I have every reason for be- 
 lieving that my son will surmount them." 
 
 " I should be vexed were it otherwise," the king said^ 
 with a tinge of incredulity, as he retired. " Monsieur 
 Eobert-Houdin," he added, as he closed the door after him^ 
 " I shall feel obliged by your punctuality." 
 
 At four o'clock precisely, when the royal family and the 
 numerous guests were assembled, the curtains that con- 
 cealed me opened, and I appeared on the stage. Owing to 
 my repeated performances, I had fortunately acquired an 
 imperturbable assurance and a confidence in myself which 
 the success of my experiments fully justified. 
 
 I began in the most profound silence, for the party evi- 
 dently wished to see and judge before giving me any 
 encouragement. But, insensibly, they became excited^ 
 and I heard several exclamations of surprise, which were 
 soon followed by still more expressive demonstrations. 
 
 All my tricks were very favourably received, and the 
 one I had invented for the occasion gained me unbounded 
 applause. 
 
 I will give a description of it : — 
 
 I borrowed from my noble spectators several handker- 
 chiefs, which I made into a parcel, and laid on the table. 
 Then, at my request, difierent persons wrote on cards the 
 names of places whither they desired the handkerchiefs to 
 be invisibly transported. 
 
 When this had been done, I begged the king to tak© 
 three of the cards at hazard, and choose from them the 
 place he might consider the most suitable. 
 
 " Let us see," Louis Philippe said, " what this one says : 
 * I desire the handkerchiefs to be found beneath one of the 
 candelabra on the mantelpiece.' That is too easy for 
 a sorcerer ; so we will pass to the next card : ' The hand- 
 kerchiefs are to be transported to the dome of the In- 
 

 A MATCH FOR A KIXG, 233 
 
 valides." That would suit me, but it is much, too far, not 
 for the handkerchiefs, but for us. Ah, ah!" the king 
 added, looking at the last card, " I am afraid. Monsieur 
 Eobert-Houdin, I am about to embarrass you. Do you 
 know what this card proposes ?" 
 
 " Will your majesty deign to inform me ?" 
 
 "It is desired that you should send the handkerchiefs 
 into the chest of the last orange-tree on the right of the 
 avenue." 
 
 " Only that, sire? Deign to order, and I will obey." 
 
 " Very good, then ; I should like to see such a magic 
 act : I, therefore, choose the orange-tree chest." 
 
 The king gave some orders in a low voice, and I directly 
 saw several persons run to the orange-tree, in order to 
 watch it and prevent any fraud. 
 
 I was delighted at this precaution, which must add to 
 the effect of my experiment, for the trick was already 
 arranged, and the precaution hence too late. 
 
 I had now to send the handkerchiefs on their travels, so 
 I placed them beneath a bell of opaque glass, and taking 
 my wand, I ordered my invisible travellers to proceed to 
 the spot the king had chosen. 
 
 I raised the bell ; the little parcel was no longer there, 
 and a white turtle-dove had taken its place. 
 
 The king then walked quickly to the door, whence he 
 looked in the direction of the orange-tree, to assure himself 
 that the guards were at their post ; when this was done, he 
 began to smile and shrug his shoulders. 
 
 " Ah ! Monsieur Eobert-Houdin," he said, somewhat 
 ironically, " I much fear for the virtue of your magic staff." 
 Then he added, as he returned to the end of the room, 
 where several servants were standing, " Tell William to 
 open immediately the last chest at the end of the avenue, 
 and bring me carefully what he finds there — if he does find 
 anything." 
 
 William soon proceeded to the orange-tree, and though 
 much astonished at the orders given him, he began to cariy^ 
 them out. 
 
 He carefully removed one of the sides of the chest, thrust 
 his hand in, and almost touched the roots of the tree before 
 
234 MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 he found anything. All at once he uttered a cry of sur- 
 prise, as he drew out a small iron coiFer eaten by rust. 
 
 This curious " find," after having been cleaned from the 
 mould, was brought in and placed on a small ottoman by 
 the king's side. 
 
 " Well, Monsieur Robert-Houdin," Louis Philippe said 
 to me, with a movement of impatient curiosity, " here is a 
 box ; am I to conclude it contains the handkerchiefs ?" 
 
 *' Yes, sire," I replied, with assurance, *'and they have 
 been there, too, for a long period." 
 
 *'How can that be? the handkerchiefs were lent you 
 scarce a quarter of an hour ago." 
 
 " I cannot deny it, sire ; but what would my magic 
 powers avail me if I could not perform incomprehensible 
 tricks ? Your majesty wiU doubtlessly be still more sur- 
 prised, when I prove to your satisfaction that this coffer, 
 as well as its contents, was deposited in the chest of the 
 orange-tree sixty years ago." 
 
 ** I should like to believe your statement," the king re- 
 plied, with a smile ; " but that is impossible, and I must, 
 therefore, ask for proofs of your assertion." 
 
 " If your majesty will be kind enough to open this 
 casket, they will be supplied." 
 
 " Certainly ; but I shall require a key for that." 
 
 " It only depends on yourself, sir, to have one. Deign 
 to remove it from the neck of this turtle-dove, which has 
 just brought it you." 
 
 Louis Philippe unfastened a ribbon that held a small 
 rusty key, with which he hastened to unlock the coffer. 
 
 The first thing that caught the king's eye was a parch- 
 ment, on which he read the following statement : — 
 
 This day, the 6th June, 1786, 
 This iron box, containing six handkerchiefs, was placed 
 
 AMONG the roots OF AN ORANGE-TREE BY ME, BaLSAMO, CoUNT 
 
 OF Cagliostro, to serve in performing an act of magic, 
 which will be executed on the same day sixty years hence 
 BEFORE Louis Philippe of Orleans and his family. 
 
SECOND SIGHT. 235 
 
 " There is decidedly witchcraft about this," the king 
 said, more and more amazed. " Nothing is wanting, for 
 the seal and signature of the celebrated sorcerer are placed 
 at the foot of this statement, which. Heaven pardon me, 
 smells strongly of sulphur." 
 
 At this jest, the audience began to laugh. 
 
 " But," the king added, taking out of the box a carefully 
 sealed packet, " can the handkerchiefs by possibility be in 
 this?" 
 
 " Indeed, sire, they are ; but, before opening the parcel, 
 I would request your majesty to notice that it also bears 
 the impression of Cagliostro's seal." 
 
 This seal, once rendered so famous by being placed on 
 the celebrated alchemist's bottles of elixir and liquid gold, 
 I had obtained from Torrini, who had been an old friend 
 of Cagliostro's. 
 
 " It is certainly the same," my royal spectator answered, 
 after comparing the two seals. Still, in his impatience to 
 learn the contents of the parcel, the king quickly tore open 
 the envelope, and soon displayed before the astounded 
 spectators the six handkerchiefs which, a few moments 
 before, were still on my table. 
 
 This trick gained me lively applause, but in my second 
 sight, which was to terminate the performance, I had really 
 to sustain a terrible struggle, as the king had warned me. 
 
 Among the objects handed me, there was, I remember, a 
 medal, which it was expected would embarrass me. Still, 
 I had no sooner taken it in my hand than my son described 
 it in the following terms : — 
 
 " It is," he said, confidently, " a Greek medal of bronze, 
 on which is a word composed of six letters, which I will 
 spell : lambda^ epsilon, mu, nu, omicron, sigma, which makes 
 Lemnos." 
 
 My son knew the Greek alphabet ; hence, he could read 
 the word Lemnos, although he could not possibly have 
 translated it. 
 
 This was in itself a severe trial for so young a lad ; but 
 it did not satisfy the royal family. 
 
 I was handed a small Chinese coin with a hole through 
 the centre, and its name and value were immediately indi- 
 
236 MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 cated ; and, lastly, a difficulty, from whicli I managed to 
 escape successfully, was the brilliant finale of my per- 
 formance. 
 
 I had been surprised to see the Duchess of Orleans, who 
 took a lively interest in the second sight, retire to her 
 apartments ; but she soon returned, and handed me a small 
 case, the contents of which she wished my son to describe, 
 but I must be careful not to open it. 
 
 I had foreseen this prohibition ; so, while the princess 
 was speaking to me, I opened the case with one hand, and, 
 by a rapid glance, satistied myself as to its contents. Still, 
 I pretended for a moment to be startled by the proposal, in 
 order to produce a greater effect. 
 
 " Your highness," I remarked, as I returned the case, 
 " will allow me to appeal against such a proposal, for you 
 must have remarked that, until now, I required to see the 
 object before my son could name it." 
 
 " Yet you have surmounted greater difficulties," the 
 amiable duchess retorted. " However, if it is not possible, 
 let us say no more about it, for I should be grieved to 
 cause you any embarrassment." 
 
 " AVhat your highness wishes is, I repeat, impossible; 
 and yet my son, feeling anxious to justify the confidence 
 you place in his clairvoyance, will attempt to see through 
 the case, and describe its contents." 
 
 " Can he do so even through my hands ?" the duchess 
 continued, trying to conceal the case. 
 
 "Yes, madam, and even if your highness were in the 
 next room, my son would be able to see it." 
 
 The duchess, declining tlie new trial I proposed, satisfied 
 herself by questioning my son with her own lips. 
 
 The boy, who had long received his instructions, replied, 
 without hesitation, " There is in the case a diamond pin, 
 the stone being surrounded by a garter of sky-blue 
 enamel." 
 
 " That is perfectly correct," the duchess said, as she 
 showed the ornament to the king. "Judge" for yourself, 
 sire ;" then, turaing to me, she added, with infinite grace, 
 " Monsieur Robert-Houdin, will you accept this pin in 
 remembrance of your visit to St. Cloud ?" 
 
HOLIDAYS. 237 
 
 I thanked her highness sincerely, as I assured her of my 
 gratitude. 
 
 The performance was over : the curtain fell, and, in my 
 turn, I was enabled to enjoy a curious scene at my ease ; 
 it was to look through a small hole at my audience, who 
 had assembled in groups, and were talking about the im- 
 pression I had produced. 
 
 Before leaving the chateau, the king and queen again 
 sent me the most flattering messages by the person charged 
 to hand me a souvenir of their munificence. 
 
 This representation could not increase my reputation — • 
 that was not possible — but it helped powerfully to main- 
 tain it. My performance at St. Cloud, more especially, 
 created a sensation among the aristocracy, who, until that 
 moment, had hesitated about visiting my small room. 
 Their curiosity overcame other considerations, and they 
 came in their turn to assure themselves of the reality of 
 the marvels attributed to me. 
 
 The summer heats were, however, beginning to be felt : 
 we had reached the commencement of July, and I had to 
 think about closing my theatre. However, instead of 
 running after fortune, as in the previous year, I occupied 
 myself with changing and improving my performance. 
 The task was heavy ; for I was filled with bold emulation, 
 as I could not conceal from myself that my success im- 
 posed certain duties on me, and that, in order to keep it 
 up, I must be constantly deserving of it. 
 
 The most painful part of my inquiries was, that my 
 inventions must be completed by a certain day and hour, 
 for the reopening of my theatre was fixed for the first of 
 the next September, and, for many reasons, I determined 
 on being punctual. 
 
 For two months I worked with great ardour, granting 
 iyself no rest or pleasure. Sometimes, however, after 
 tinner on Sunday, I allowed myself a recreation which 
 lay seem strange to many of my readers : I went to the 
 lirs round Paris, and studied ihe mountebanks. There I 
 amused myself, I may say, as much as any of the spec- 
 tators around me ; thou^ the jDleasure I felt was not of the 
 same nature as that of jBkneighbours. I amused myself by 
 
238 MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 seeing their amusement, 'and nothing more ; for any one 
 who has seen this style of spectacle must have noticed that 
 the moTintehank gives his public very little for their money. 
 The best part of the sight is often seen outside. 
 
 CHAPTEE XVII. 
 
 New Experiments — Aerial Suspension, &c. — A Performance at tho 
 Ode'on — ^A Friend in Need— 1848 — The Theatres deserttd— I leave 
 Paris for London— Manager Mitchell— Publicity in England— The 
 Great Wizard— A Butter-mould used as a Puff- Singular Bills— A 
 Prize for the best Pun. 
 
 Instead of being able to recommence my performances on 
 the 1st of September, as I had hoped, my compulsory 
 holidays, which might be called my "penal servitude," 
 were prolonged another month, and it was not till the 
 1st of October that I was prepared to offer my new experi- 
 ments to the public. 
 
 My pecuniary interests were much affected by this delay, 
 but I trusted, correctly enough, to the zeal of the public to 
 visit me, as a compensation. 
 
 My new repertory contained the Crystal Box, the Fardas- 
 tic Portfolio, the Trapeze Tumbler, the Garde Franqaise, the 
 Origin of 1* lowers, the Crystal Balls, the Inexhaustible Bottle, 
 the Ethereal Suspension, &c. 
 
 I had devoted especial care to the last experiment, on 
 which I built great hopes. Surgery had supplied me with 
 the first idea of it. 
 
 It will be remembered that in 1 847 the insensibility pro- 
 duced by inhaling ether began to be applied in surgical 
 operations ; all the world talked about the mai-vellous effect 
 of this anaesthetic, and its extraordinary results. In the 
 eyes of many people it seemed much akin to magic. 
 
 Seeing that the surgeons invaded my domain, I asked 
 myself if this did not allow me to make reprisals. I did so 
 by inventing my ethereal suspension, which, I believe, was far 
 more surprising than any result obtained by my surgical 
 brethren. 
 
ETHEREAL SUSPENSION. 239 
 
 The subject I intended to operate on was my younger 
 son, and I could not have selected one better suited for the 
 experiment. He was a stout lad of about six years of age, 
 and his plump and rosy face was a picture of health. In 
 spite of his youth, he displayed the greatest intelligence in 
 learning his part, and played it with such perfection, that 
 the most incredulous were duped. 
 
 This trick was very much applauded, and I am bound to 
 say that my arrangements were excellently made ; this was 
 the first time I tried to direct the surprise of my spectators 
 by gradually heightening it up to the moment when, so to 
 speak it exploded. 
 
 I divided my experiment into three parts, each more sur- 
 prising than the former. 
 
 Thus, when I removed the stool from beneath the child's 
 feet, the public, who had smiled during the preparations 
 for the suspension, became thoughtful. 
 
 When I next removed one of the canes, exclamations of 
 surprise and fear were heard. 
 
 Lastly, at the moment when I raised my son to an hori- 
 zontal position, the spectators, at this unexpected result, 
 crowned the experiment with hearty applause. 
 
 Still, it sometimes happened that sensitive persons, re- 
 garding the etherization too seriously, protested in their 
 hearts against the applause, and wrote me letters in which 
 they severely upbraided the unnatural father who sacri- 
 ficed the health of his poor child to the pleasures of the 
 public. Some went so far as to threaten me with the 
 terrors of the law if I did not give up my inhuman per- 
 formance. 
 
 The anonymous writers of such accusations did not suspect 
 the pleasure they caused me. After amusing the family 
 circle, I kept the letters preciously as proofs of the illusion 
 I had produced. 
 
 The fashion this performance raised could not surpass 
 that of the previous year : I could not expect any other 
 result than filling my theatre, and that occurred every 
 evening. 
 
 The roj'^al family also wished to see my new experi- 
 ments ; and for this purpose the whole room was taken for 
 
240 MEMOIRS or ROBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 the afternoon, so that my evening performances were not 
 interrupted. 
 
 This perfoi-mance, which the Queen of the Belgians wit- 
 nessed with her family, was only so far peculiar, that my 
 little room was filled with exalted personages. All the 
 seats were occupied, for their majesties were accompanied 
 by their respective courts, and a great number of ambas- 
 sadors and royal dignitaries. 
 
 As I had reason to hope, my noble spectators were satis- 
 fied, and deigned to thank me in person. 
 
 In the midst of this general satisfaction, I had e very- 
 reason to believe that I possessed the favour of the public ; 
 I learned, though, at a heavy penalty, that even if the 
 favour of that sovereign may appear secured, a trifle will 
 cause it almost to expire. 
 
 On the 18th of February, 1848, Madame Dorval took her 
 benefit at the Odeon, and I promised that eminent actress 
 to perform some of my tricks as an interlude. 
 
 I was punctual to my appointment across the water; 
 half-past eleven struck, when the curtain fell just prior to 
 my performance. As I had been ready to begin for some 
 time, ten minutes were sufficient to give a final glance to 
 my preparations. 
 
 My first care on taking possession of the stage, had been 
 to conceal my operations from indiscreet eyes ; hence, I had 
 dismissed everybody. Unfortunately, I had not even 
 made an exception in favour of the stage-manager, and the 
 sorrowful effects of this measure will now be seen. 
 
 In most excellent lumiour, I ordered my servant to 
 give the three usual taps, and the orchestra began playing 
 while I walked to the side-scene, prior to making my 
 appearance. But at the moment the curtain rose, I 
 remembered I had forgotten one of my "accessories," and I 
 ran to my dressing-room to fetch it. Unfortunately, in my 
 huiTy I did not notice that the machinist had inadvertently 
 left a small trap open, and my leg slipped into it up to the 
 knee. 
 
 The pain drew from me a sharp cry of distress; my 
 servant ran up, and he could only release me with some 
 
A SAD ACCIDENT. 241 
 
 difficulty. But I was in a sad state, for my trouser was 
 torn completely up, exposing my bleeding and lacerated 
 leg. 
 
 In this unhappy condition, I could not possibly return to 
 the stage ; hence I looked around in search of some one 
 to announce to the public the accident that had happened 
 to me, but I could only see two firemen. They would 
 not do for so delicate a mission, and although I had my 
 servant, this worthy lad was a negro with woolly head, 
 blubber lips, and an ebony skin, whose simple language 
 would not have failed to raise a laugh at my painful 
 position. 
 
 The stage manager alone could undertake the mission ; 
 but where should I find him ? 
 
 These reflections, prompt as lightning, were interrupted 
 by the commencement of a storm in the theatre ; the public 
 summoned me, for it must be remembered the curtain had 
 risen, and in the eyes of the public I had missed my en- 
 trance ; this was disrespect, and, therefore, unpardonable ! 
 
 My negro, without caring for what was passing elsewhere, 
 tore up his handkerchief and mine, and bound my wound 
 with considerable skill. This did not prevent me suffering 
 severe pain, but I soon experienced a torture a thousand- 
 fold greater when I heard a violent storm burst out in the 
 house. The public, who had begun by stamping, were now 
 hissing, shouting, and yelling in all the discordant tones of 
 dissatisfaction. 
 
 Overcoming my pain, I changed my trousers in haste, 
 and decided on going myself to describe my accident. I 
 therefore walked slowly to the door of the stage, and I was 
 just going to open it, when a frightful noise turned me 
 cold with terror, and checked me. My heart failed me. 
 Still, I put a stop to this. " Courage," I said to myself, 
 with a supreme effort — " courage!" and straightway throw- 
 ing open the folding doors, I walked on the stage. 
 
 1 shall never forget my reception. On one hand, 
 cries, hisses, yells ; on the other, clapping of hands and 
 applause, enough to wake the dead. The two parties were 
 apparently attempting to conquer each other in making a 
 noise. 
 
 R 
 
242 MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 Pale and trembling at such a rongh reception, I waited 
 patiently for a moment when the combatants, wearied with 
 the contest, wonld allow me to explain my delay. This 
 moment at length arrived, and I was enabled to describe 
 my painful adventure. My paleness testified to the truth 
 of my words. The public allowed themselves to be dis- 
 armed, and hisses were no longer mingled with the applause 
 which greeted my explanation. 
 
 Any one who knows the relief and comfort bravos and 
 hearty applause arouse in the heart of an actor, will under- 
 stand the sudden change they produced in me. The blood 
 rushed to my cheeks and restored my colour, my strength 
 returned, and, possessed by fresh energy, I stated to the 
 public that I found myself so much recovered that I would 
 go on with my performance. I did so ; and such was the 
 power of my excitement, that I scarce felt the pain produced 
 by my wound. 
 
 I have said that, on my appearance, I was saluted by 
 demonstrations of a very different nature. Although many 
 of my spectators hissed, others applauded me. Truth 
 extorts a confession from me. I was supported on this 
 evening by an omnipotent protector. 
 
 This requires an explanation. Hence, that my readers 
 may solve the enigma, I am obliged to narrate a slight 
 anecdote. 
 
 At the period when I invented my experiment of second 
 sight, several Parisian managers proposed to me to perform, 
 as an interlude, in their theatres, but I had refused, because, 
 as I was tired by my own performances, I did •not wish to 
 prolong them. My determination on this point was quite 
 formed, when I received a visit from an actress of the 
 
 Palais Eoyal, Madame M , who performed the part of 
 
 duennas. 
 
 ♦' I have not the honour of your acquaintance, sir," she 
 said, with a certain degree of hesitation, "hence I am 
 almost afraid to ask you to render me a great service. 
 These are the circumstances of the case : our excellent 
 manager, Dormeuil, has offered me a benefit, the profits of 
 which are intended to release my son from the conscription. 
 It only depends on you, sir, to insure the success of the 
 
HIRED APPLAUSE. 243 
 
 performance by giving me yonr assistance." And the poor 
 mother, deriving her eloquence from her love for her son, 
 painted in such lively colours the distress she would feel 
 from a failure, that, touched by her grief, I rescinded my 
 determination, and consented to add my performance of the 
 " second sight " to her bill. 
 
 I dare not form the flattering idea that my name had 
 any share in the success of the performance ; still the house 
 was crowded, and the receipts more than covered the price 
 of a substitute. 
 
 The next day the happy mother called to tell me of her 
 good fortune, and thank me. She was accompanied by a 
 gentleman I did not know, but who, so soon as Madame 
 
 M had ceased speaking, told me in his turn the object 
 
 of his visit. 
 
 " I have taken the liberty of accompanying Madame 
 
 M to compliment you on what you have done for her. 
 
 It is a good action, for which all her theatrical friends owe 
 you abundant thanks ; and for my part, I hope, sooner or 
 later, to evidence my gratitude in my own way." 
 
 While flattered at my visitor's remarks, I was much 
 puzzled as to the sense of his last sentence. He noticed it, 
 ^nd, giving me no time to reply, continued : 
 
 " Ah ! I forgot to tell you who I am, and I ought to have 
 begun with that. My name is Duhart, and I manage 
 theatrical successes at the Palais Royal. By-the-way," he 
 -added, " were you satisfied with the reception you bad last 
 night?" 
 
 This confession, I grant, robbed me of a sweet illusion. 
 I had fancied I owed my reception to my own merits, and 
 I now could not guess what share of the applause legiti- , 
 mately belonged to me. Still I thanked M. Duhart for his 
 kindness, both past and to come. Three months later, I 
 had almost forgotten this incident, when one day, as I was 
 going to give a performance at the Porte Saint-Martin, my 
 friend Duhart called upon me. 
 
 " Only one word. Monsieur Houdin," he said, without 
 faking the trouble to sit down. " I read in the bills that 
 you are going to perform for Eaucourt's benefit, and I have 
 
 recommended you to P , who will ' take care of you/ " 
 
 r2 
 
244 MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 I was, in fact, ♦' taken care of," for when I appeared on 
 the stage, I. was greeted by a reception worthy of the highest 
 artistic celebrities. It was easy to recognize an ovation 
 warmly recommended, but I was glad to notice that the 
 public " followed suit," and that the bravos emanating 
 from the pit radiated through the whole house. 
 
 A few months later, when about to perform at the 
 Gymnase, came another visit from Duhart, the same recom- 
 mendation to his comrade, and a similar result. In short, 
 I rarely quitted my own stage but my grateful protector 
 interested himself in my success. 
 
 I am forced to say that I let him do so, and saw no harm 
 in it ; far from that, these encouragements were a stimulant 
 for me, and I always redoubled my efforts to deserve them^ 
 
 I have taken a pride in relating this incident, for it ad- 
 mirably depicts the character of a man capable of being so 
 long grateful for a slight service rendered to a friend. 
 However, the performance at the Odeon was the last in 
 which the worthy Duhart went out of his way for me, a& 
 the revolution of February arrived a few days later. 
 
 It will be remembered that this event was an utter 
 " smasher " for all the theatres. 
 
 After exhausting all the attractive baits of their re- 
 pertory, the managers, finding all their attractions fail, 
 vainly formed a congress to relieve them from such a dis- 
 astrous situation. 
 
 I was invited to the meeting, but, though I put in an 
 appearance, it was merely through politeness, as I was in a 
 position very different from that of my brethren. 
 
 This position depended simply on the fact that my esta- 
 blishment, instead of having the name of a theatre, was 
 called a "spectacle." Through this slight difference of 
 title I enjoyed rights infinitely more extended. 
 
 Thus, while the theatres could only have bills of a size 
 arranged by a police decree, I was at liberty, as the manager 
 of a spectacle, to announce my performances in unbounded 
 proportions. 
 
 I could also lessen or increase the number of my per- 
 formances at my pleasure, which was not one of the slightest 
 advantages of my management. 
 
FREE ADMISSIONS. 245 
 
 Lastly, I had a right, whenever I thought proper, to put 
 the key of my room in my pocket, dismiss my staif, and 
 walk about at my leisure in expectation of better times. 
 
 All these advantages, to which I will add that of being 
 iDurdened with very slight expenses compared with my 
 b)rethren, offered me no other result than that of not losing 
 my money. However I might try, the public remained 
 deaf to my appeal as to theirs. 
 
 I am mistaken, though ; for some days I received very 
 polite letters from the Provisional Government, in the shape 
 of " free passes," which begged me to find room in my hall 
 for the students of the Polytechnic and St. Cyr schools, ac- 
 companied by their tutors. 
 
 I was enchanted, it is true, by this amiable act of polite- 
 ness, which augmented the number of my scanty spectators ; 
 for I performed, at least, before a well-filled room, and I 
 had no longer the annoyance of seeing those unlucky 
 TDenches empty — a sight which usually paralyzes the most 
 philosophic performers. 
 
 This illusion was, in truth, very ephemeral, for each 
 evening, after the performance, my cashier assumed a very 
 gloomy face on approaching me. 
 
 What disenchantment ! What bitter reprisals on the 
 part of the blind goddess who, for some time, had granted 
 me such sweet favours ! 
 
 Still, in these moments of distress, I may say with perfect 
 sincerity, deceptions and torment were not confined to the 
 profit and loss account; and though a manager does not 
 take money, he desires to conceal his miser}'-. In order to 
 produce a deception, he tries to furnish his theatre, and he 
 gives free admissions. I had recourse to this measure ;*but, 
 what will appear strange, these tickets, which, a month 
 earlier, would have been regarded as an immense favour, 
 were viewed with considerable indifference, and it often 
 liappened that people did not take the trouble to accept my 
 invitation. 
 
 Having become a philosopher through necessity, I ended 
 by resigning myself to seeing my room nearly empty, and 
 I sent out no more invitations. Besides, I had enjoyed an 
 opportimity of studying the " free admissions," and I had 
 
246 MEMOIRS OE ROBERT-HOUDIN'. 
 
 remarked that this class of spectators is, or pretends to be^ 
 quite indifferent to the performance. In fact> the " free 
 admission," when he believes the theatre short of spectators, 
 imagines he is doing an act of kindness by accepting the 
 invitation offered him. If he finds the house full, he fancies 
 all the places are occupied by gratis tickets (and he is some- 
 times correct), and he concludes from it that the perform- 
 ance cannot be very amusing. If he happen to be mistaken,, 
 he does not applaud, in his fear of being taken for a gratui- 
 tous visitor, and pass for an accomplice paying for his seat 
 in applause. 
 
 I v^ras in the thick of my managerial troubles when, one 
 morning, I received a visit from the manager of the French 
 theatre in London. Mitchell (that is his name), far from 
 seeking to delude me by false promises, like my Brussels 
 theatrical agent, merely made me the following simple 
 proposal : — 
 
 " Monsieur Eobert-Houdin," he said to me, " you are 
 well known in London ; come and perform at the St. 
 James's Theatre, and I have every reason to believe you 
 will be successful. Besides, we shall be equally interested, 
 for we will share the gross receipts, and I will pay all the 
 expenses. You will perform alternately with my Opera 
 Comique, that is to say, on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and 
 Saturdays, and you will begin, if you please, on the 7th of 
 May next, or a month from to-day," 
 
 These conditions appearing to me very acceptable, I may 
 add, most advantageous, I agreed to them most readily. 
 Mitchell then offered me his hand, I gave him mine, and 
 this friendly sanction was the only agreement we made for 
 this important affair. Though there was no forfeit on either 
 side, no arrangement or signature, never was a bargaia 
 better cemented. 
 
 From that time, during all my long connection with 
 Mitchell, I had many occasions of appreciating all the value 
 of his word. I may say loudly that he is one of the most 
 conscientious managers I ever had dealings with. In addi- 
 tion, Mitchell adds an extreme affability, and a remarkable 
 degree of generosity and disinterestedness to the merit of 
 keeping his word. Under all circumstances, he will be 
 
ME. MITCHELL. 247 
 
 found to act as a perfect gentleman, and one Of the most 
 brilliant qualities he possesses as manager, is his courteous 
 behaviour to his performers. The following instance will 
 serve as a proof : — 
 
 Jenny Lind was singing at Her Majesty's Theati'e on the 
 same evenings I performed at St. James's, so that, despite 
 all the wish I felt to go and hear her, T could not make up 
 my mind to sacrifice a performance for this attractive plea- 
 sure. However, in consequence of a circumstance too 
 lengthy to detail here, I happened to find myself free, on 
 one of the nights when Jenny Lind sang. I must add that, 
 besides managing the St. James's Theatre, Mitchell had 
 hired a certain number of boxes at Her Majesty's by the 
 year, and, according to the English custom, let them out to 
 the highest bidders. It happened at times that all the 
 tickets were not sold, and in that case Mitchell gave them 
 to a few privileged friends. I was aware of this circum- 
 stance, and intended to ask him a similar favour for this 
 evening. 
 
 At the moment I was going out to seek my manager, he 
 came into my room. 
 
 " By Jove, my dear Mitchell," I said to him, *' I was just 
 going to prefer a request to you." 
 
 " Whatever it may be, my dear friend," he replied politely, 
 *' be assured it will be willingly heard." 
 
 And when I explained to him what I wanted, 
 
 " Good Heavens ! Houdin," he said, in a tone of real 
 annoyance, " how unlucky you should ask that of me." 
 
 " Why so?" I replied, in the same tone; "if it is not 
 possible, my^dear friend, pray let me withdraw my re- 
 quest." 
 
 " On the contrary, my dear Houdin — on the contrary, it 
 is very easy ; I am only vexed at missing the surprise I 
 intended to oifer you : I was going to give you an excellent 
 box for to-night : here it is." 
 
 A more delicate and amiable way of behaving could 
 hardly be suggested. 
 
 A fortnight had scarce elapsed since my interview with 
 Mitchell, when, after a most successful passage, I disem- 
 barked at London. On the moment of my arrival, my 
 
248 MEMOIRS OK KOBEKT-HOUDIN. 
 
 manager led me to a deliglitful lodging close to the theatre, 
 and showed me all the rooms. On reaching the sleeping 
 apartment, he said : — 
 
 " You have a celebrated bed before you : it is the one in 
 which Eachel, Dejazet, Jenny Colon, and many other 
 artistic celebrities, rested after the emotion produced by 
 their successes. You cannot but enjoy the ideas which 
 the remembrance of these illustrious guests will summon 
 up in your dreams. To any other than you, my dear 
 Houdin, I would say that these celebrated predecessors 
 must bring good luck ; but your success depends on the 
 virtue of your magic staff." 
 
 Mitchell, feeling desirous to add all desirable attraction 
 to my performances, had ordered a scene in the Louis XV. 
 style, as well as a curtain, on which was painted, in letters 
 of gold, the title adopted for my Paris theatre, " ^Soirees 
 Fantastiques de lioBERT-HouDix :" consequently, I could not 
 begin my arrangements till all these preparations had been 
 completed. 
 
 In the mean while, having nothing better to do, I walked 
 about daily in the magnificent parks, and collected my 
 strength, in preparation for the fatigues I was about to 
 undergo in my performances. 
 
 At this word " fatigues," my reader will be doubtlessly 
 surprised, for he has every reason to suppose that my stay 
 in London would be in some degree a period of rest, as, 
 instead of playing seven times a week, as in Paris, I was 
 only to give three performances in the same period. 
 
 To explain this apparent contradiction, it will be enough 
 for me to state that the work and fatigue are less in the 
 performance than in its preparation. As at St. James's 
 Theatre I had to perform alternately with the Comic 
 Opera, I was obliged, lest I might impede these artists in 
 their studies, to give them all necessary time for their 
 rehearsals, which, as is well known, occupy the greater 
 portion of the day. Consequently, I had promised to clear 
 the stage so soon as my performance was over, and not 
 occupy it again till the middle of the day on which I per- 
 foimed. Add to this, that in my labour of preparing and 
 removing, the master's eye was not sufficient, but I had for 
 
THE WIZARD OF THE NORTH. 249 
 
 various reasons to set to work myself, and it may be easily 
 understood that this caused me enormous fatigue. 
 
 It caused me at the outset a species of comical regret to 
 find that my performances would not owe their success 
 entirely to my own merits. In England it is almost im- 
 possible to gain the ear of the public unless every possible 
 form of notoriety be resorted to, and the change from my 
 peaceful retirement in Paris was very startling. Whenever 
 I took my walks abroad, my name in gigantic letters stared 
 me in the face, while enormous posters, on which my 
 various tricks were represented, covered the walls of 
 London, and, according to the English fashion, were 
 promenaded about the streets, by the help of a vehicle like 
 those we employ in Paris for removing furniture. 
 
 But, however great this publicity might be, it was quite 
 modest when compared to that opposed to us by a rival, 
 who may be justl}^ regarded as the most ingenious and 
 skilful puffer in England. 
 
 On my arrival in England, a conjuror of the name of 
 Anderson, who assumed the title of Great Wizard of the 
 North, had been performing for a long period at the little 
 Strand Theatre. 
 
 This artist, fearing, doubtlessly, that public attention 
 might be divided, tried to crush the publicity of my per- 
 formances ; hence, he sent out on London streets a caval- 
 cade thus organized : — 
 
 Four enormous carriages, covered with posters and pic- 
 tures representing all sorts of witchcraft, opened the proces- 
 sion. Then followed four-and-twenty merry men, each bear- 
 ing a banner, on which was painted a letter a yard in height. 
 
 At each cross-road the four carriages stopped side by 
 and presented a bill some twenty-five yards in length, 
 while all the men, I should say letters, on receiving the 
 word of command, drew themselves up in a line, like the 
 vehicles. 
 
 Seen in front, the letters formed this phrase : — 
 
 The Celebrated Anderson ! ! ! 
 while on the other side of the banners could be read — 
 The Great Wizard of the North. 
 
250 MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 Unfortunately for the Wizard, his performances were 
 attacked by a mortal disease ; too long a stay in London 
 had ended by producing satiety. Besides, his repertory 
 was out of date, and could not contend against the new 
 tricks I was about to offer. What could he present to 
 the public in opposition to the second sight, the suspen- 
 sion, and the inexhaustible bottle ? Hence, he was obliged 
 to close his theatre and start for the provinces, where he 
 managed, as usual, to make excellent receipts, owing to his 
 powerful means of notoriety. 
 
 I have met many "puffers" in my life, but I may 
 say I never saw one who attained the elevation Anderson 
 reached. The instance I have quoted will give some idea 
 of his manner, but I will add a few others, to supply a 
 perfect idea of the man. 
 
 Whenever his performances are going to be given in a 
 large town, though they are announced with extreme pub- 
 licity, Anderson contrives to bring his wonders to the no- 
 tice even of those who never read the newspapers or posters. 
 
 For this purpose, he sends to all the buttermen in the 
 town moulds on which his name, title, and the hour of his 
 performance are engraved, begging them to imprint his 
 stamp on their butter-pats, in lieu of the cow ordinarily 
 represented. As every family in England eats butter at 
 breakfast, it follows that each receives, at no expense to 
 the conjuror, an invitation to pay a visit to the illustrious 
 Wizard of the North. 
 
 Again, too, Anderson sends out into the streets, before 
 daybreak, a dozen men, carrying those open frames, by 
 means of which, and with a brush and lamp black, the 
 walls of Paris have been so long covered with puffs. These 
 people print the announcement of the Wizard's performance 
 on the pavement, which is always kept remarkably clean 
 in England. In spite of himself, every tradesman on 
 opening his shop, and every inhabitant proceeding to 
 business, cannot but read the name of Anderson, and the 
 announcement of his performance. It is true that a few 
 hours later these puffs are effaced by the footsteps of the 
 passers-by, but thousands of persons have read them, and 
 the Wizard requires no more. 
 
THE RETURN OF NAPOLEON. 261 
 
 His posters are equally original, and I was shown one of 
 a gigantic size put out on the occasion of his return to 
 London after a lengthened absence in the provinces. It 
 was a caricature imitation of the famous picture " Napo- 
 leon's Eeturn from Elba." 
 
 In the foreground Anderson was seen affecting the atti- 
 tude of the great man ; above his head fluttered an enor- 
 mous banner, bearing the words " The Wonder of the 
 World ;" while, behind him, and somewhat lost in the 
 shade, the Emperor of Eussia and several other monarchs 
 stood in a respectful posture. As in the original picture, 
 the fanatic admirers of the Wizard embraced his knees, 
 while an immense crowd received him triumphantly. In 
 the distance could be seen the equestrian statue of the 
 Iron Duke, who, hat in hand, bowed before him, the Great 
 Wizard ; and, lastly, the very dome of St. Paul's bent 
 towards him most humbly. 
 
 At the bottom was the inscription, — 
 
 " Return of the Napoleon of Necromancy." 
 
 Eegarded seriously, this picture would be found a puff 
 in very bad taste ; but, as a caricature, it is excessively 
 comic. Besides, it had the double result of making the 
 London public laugh, and bringing a great number of shil- 
 lings into the skilful puffer's pockets. 
 
 When Anderson is about to leave a town where he has 
 exhausted all his resources, and has nothing more to hope, 
 he still contrives to make one more enormous haul. 
 
 He orders from the first jeweller in the town a silver 
 vase, worth twenty or twenty-five pounds ; he hires, for 
 one evening only, the largest theatre or room in the town, 
 and announces that in the Wizard's parting performance 
 the spectators will compete to make the best pun. 
 
 The silver vase is to be the prize of the victor. 
 
 A jury is chosen among the chief people of the town 
 to decide with the public on the merits of each pun. 
 
 It is agreed that they will applaud if they think a pun 
 good ; they will say nothing to a passable one, but groan 
 at a bad one. 
 
 The room is always crowded, for people come less to see 
 
252 MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 the performance, which they know bj^ heart, than to dis- 
 play their wit publicly. Each makes his jest, and receives 
 a greeting more or less favourable ; and, lastly, the vase is 
 decreed to the cleverest among them. 
 
 Any other than Anderson would be satisfied with the 
 enormous receipts his performance produces ; but the Great 
 Wizard of the North has not finished yet. Before the 
 audience leave the house he states that a short-hand writer 
 had been hired by him to take down all the puns, and that 
 they will be published as a Miscellany. 
 
 As each spectator who has made a joke likes to see it in 
 print, he purchases a copy of the book for a shilling. An 
 idea of the number of these copies may be formed from the 
 number of puns they contain. I have one of these books 
 in my possession, printed at Glasgow in 1850, in which 
 there are 1091 of these facetiEe. 
 
 The charlatan style of Anderson's bills is most amusing 
 — at least I regard it as such ; for it is not presumable that 
 Anderson ever intended sincerely to praise himself in such 
 an outrageous way. If I am mistaken, it would be more 
 than vanity on his part, when I take into consideration his 
 conjuring talent. Hence I believe him to be very modest 
 at heart. 
 
 CHAPTER XVTII. 
 
 The St. James's Tlieatre— Invasion of England by French Performers 
 — A Fete patronized by the Queen— The Diplomatist and the 
 Sleight-of-Hand Man — Three Thousand Pounds taken at one Haul 
 — I perform at Manchester— The Spectators in the Pillory — What 
 capital Cura^oa ! — A Torrent of Wine — A Catastrophe — Per- 
 formance at Buckingham Palace — A Wizard's Eepast. 
 
 I3uT it is time to return to St. James's : the machinists, 
 painters, and decorators have finished their work, for the 
 2nd of May has arrived, the day fixed for my stage being 
 handed over to me. 
 
 In fact, ever}'^ one was admirably punctual: the new 
 scenery was in its place at an early hour, and as, at Mit- 
 
AN AWKWARD POSITION, 253 
 
 chell's request, the rehearsals were suspended for that day, 
 the theatre was entirely at my service; hence I could de- 
 vote myself quietly to the preparations for my performance. 
 However, all had been so well arranged beforehand, that I 
 was in perfect readiness when the audience began entering 
 the house. 
 
 It may be supposed I had taken every possible precau- 
 tion to insure success, for an experiment which must excite 
 astonishment if it succeed, in the event of failure is ruin to 
 the operator. Hence I sincerely pity those sorcerers whose 
 supernatural power hangs on a thread. 
 
 It is true that a skilful conjuror ought always to be able 
 to escape any difficulty that may occur to him ; still, this 
 sort of repairs very rarely meets with success, for, after all, 
 it is only a patching together, in which the cracks are 
 only too visible. 
 
 I had a mode of escape always at hand in any emergency, 
 but I confess I was much vexed when compelled to have 
 recourse to these secondary means, which, by prolonging 
 the experiment, render it far less striking. 
 
 When a failure happens in tricks of skill an escape is 
 impossible, for a conjuror ought no more to fail in these 
 than a good musician play a false note. Whenever he 
 makes a mistake in such a case, it results from his want of 
 adroitness, which only time can correct ; but in our ex- 
 periments accidents at times happen which the most 
 careful man cannot foresee. In such an event, you can 
 only trust to the expedients which presence of mind 
 
 Thus, one day, I happened to break the glass of a watch 
 lent mc for a trick. My position was awkward, for it is a 
 very clumsy termination to a trick to return an object lent 
 you in any way injured. 
 
 I quietly walked up to the gentleman who had lent me 
 the watch, and offered it to him, while being very careful 
 to keep the face downwards ; but, at the moment he was 
 going to take it, I drew it back. 
 
 " This is your watch ?" I said, confidently. 
 
 " Yes, sir, it is." 
 
 " Well, I merely wished to prove the fact ; will you. 
 
254 MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 sir," I added, sinking my voice to a whisper, " lend it to 
 me for another trick which I intend to perform pre- 
 sently?" 
 
 " Willingly," the obliging spectator replied. 
 
 I then cariied the watch on the stage, and, handing it 
 secretly to my servant, I bade him go at full speed to a 
 watchmaker's, and have a new glass put in. 
 
 Half an hour later, I returned the watch to its owner, 
 saying : 
 
 " I have just noticed to my regret that the lateness of 
 the hour will preclude me from performing the trick I 
 promised you ; but as I hope to have the pleasure of seeing 
 you again at my performances, please to remind me the 
 first time you come, and I shall then be able to perform 
 the interesting trick." 
 
 I was saved. 
 
 In the mean while, the public were entering the theatre, 
 but so quietly that, although my dressing-room was close 
 to the stage, I heard scarcely any noise in the house. I 
 was frightened at this, for such a quiet entry is in France 
 a sure prognostic of bad receipts for the manager, and 
 sinister foreboding of a failure to the performer. 
 
 When I was able to proceed on the stage, I ran to the 
 curtain-hole, and I saw with as much surprise as pleasure 
 the house completely filled, and presenting, in addition, the 
 most charming company I had ever yet performed before. 
 
 I must say, too, that the St. James's Theatre is a splendid 
 establishment, for it is in some degree the gathering-place 
 of the flower of the English aristocracy, who visit it not 
 merely to enjoy the performances, but also to improve 
 their pronunciation of French. 
 
 One fact will give an idea of the elegance and fashion of 
 my spectators ; no lady is allowed to keep on her bonnet, 
 however elegant it may be ; she is obliged to leave it in 
 the saloon. This is, indeed, a thorough English fashion, 
 for the ladies come to the theatre in evening costume, with 
 their hair beautifully arranged, and low-necked dresses, 
 while the gentlemen are attired it black, with white neck- 
 handkerchiefs and gloves. 
 
A FASHIONABLE AUDIENCE. 255 
 
 At St. James's, the pit only exists traditionally; it is 
 driven under the boxes, and its presence is scarcely noticed. 
 All the body of the house is filled with stalls, or rather 
 elegant arm-chairs, to which ladies are admitted. 
 
 The price of the seats is in proportion to the comfort 
 they ofter ; each stall costs seven shillings, and you can 
 enter the modest pit for three shillings ; but this is no 
 dearer than at the Opera. 
 
 While I was surveying this elegant assembly • with 
 delight, I felt a gentle tap on my shoulder. It was 
 Mitchell, who came to give me a delicate hint about some 
 invitations he had thought it advisable to send out. 
 
 " Well, Houdin," he said to me, " how do you like your 
 examination ? does the audience please you ?" 
 
 " It is delightful, my dear Mitchell ; I may add, it is the 
 first time I ever performed in a theatre to such a brilliant 
 audience." 
 
 " Brilliant is the very word, my friend, for you must 
 know that, among your admirers (pardon me this word of 
 praise, but I am quoting Mitchell) is the whole of the 
 English Press, which possesses a numerous staff. W^e 
 shall also have as spectators some gentlemen whose opinion 
 exercises a very great influence in London drawing-rooms. 
 And lastly, a great number of places are occupied by 
 artistic celebrities, who will justly appreciate the Robert- 
 Houdin whom, to employ the champagne phrase, we have 
 made ' sparkle ' as he deserves." 
 
 It may be imagined that, after this explanation, my 
 performance seemed to me a solemnity, and that I em- 
 ployed the utmost care and zeal in executing my tricks. 
 I am justified in stating that I obtained a legitimate 
 success. 
 
 Shall I now speak of the kindness and encouragement I 
 received from the audience of St. James's Theatre ? I will 
 appeal to the celebrated artistes who have performed on 
 this stage before me : Eachel, Eoger, Samson, Eegnier, 
 Buplessis, Dejazet, Bouffe, Levassor, &c. ; have they ever 
 found in Europe spectators comparable to those of St. 
 James's? Here there are no paid clappers; they would 
 be superfluous, for the audience take upon themselves to 
 
2o6 MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 encourage the performers. The gentlemen are not afraid 
 of bursting their gloves, while the ladies make as much 
 noise with their tiny hands as their strength allows. 
 
 But I must stop, for I should fear, were I to continue, 
 drifting into the style of the Great Wizard. 
 
 My peiformances went on at St. James's, and amply 
 consoled me for my losses in Paris. Although I only 
 performed three times a week, their produce exceeded 
 that of my best days at home. My readers might imagine 
 that such unequivocal success ought to have satisfied me,, 
 but, as I have said before, I am naturally ambitious, and I 
 longed for one decisive triumph — I wished to have my 
 performance honoured by the presence of the Queen. 
 Under happier auspices I doubt not that the honour would 
 have fallen to my share, but at the moment there was a 
 peculiar difficulty, which I saw no mode of overcoming. I 
 Avill describe it in as summary a manner as I can. 
 
 After the revolution, the French theatres, as I have 
 already said, found their receipts reduced to worthless free 
 tickets ; hence they sought in neighbouring countries, just 
 as I had done myself, a public less engaged with j^olitics, 
 and consequently more apt to yield to the attraction of 
 amusement. 
 
 England was the only country that had made no change 
 in its habits of luxury and pleasure, and hence many 
 managers turned their longing eyes towards this El 
 Dorado. 
 
 The Palais Eoyal Theatre, which, by-the-way, was not 
 the worst oif, was one of the first to draw a bill at sight 
 upon the rich metropolis of England. 
 
 Dormeuil, its skilful manager, divided his company into 
 two parts, one remaining at Paris, while the other (.-ame to 
 the St. James's Theatre in the place of the Opera Comique, 
 which had ended its engagement with Mitchell. Levassor, 
 Grassot, Ravel, Mile. Scrivaneck, &c., received a brilliant 
 reception from our mutual audience. 
 
 This success became known in Paris, and turned the 
 head of M. H , manager of the Historic Theatre. 
 
 After making arrangements with the proprietors of a 
 London theatre (Covent Garden, I think), the impresario 
 
THE THEATRE HISTORIQUE. 257 
 
 also came across with a portion of his company to perform 
 his play of Monte- Christo, which lasted two evenings. 
 
 The arrival of these performers, all of great merit 
 generally, disturbed the peace of the English managers, 
 Avho, fearing with some reason the entire loss of their 
 audiences, resolved to oppose this dangerous invasion. 
 
 " The French and Italian theatres in London," they 
 said in their attacks, " can play on their boards whatever 
 pieces they like; they are privileged to do so, and we 
 respect their right. But we will not permit all our 
 theatres to be thus invaded, or Shakspeare be dethroned by 
 foreign playwrights." 
 
 The question of theatrical rivalry soon assumed the 
 character of a national one. The papers took up the cause 
 of the theatres, while the public adopted the opinion of 
 the press writers, and formed an army to fight against the 
 new comers. 
 
 M. H attempted, however, to perform Alexandre 
 
 Dumas's masterpiece ; but it was impossible to hear a 
 word, so great were the noise and confusion in the house 
 during the whole time the performance lasted. Although 
 the manager persevered in his enterprise, he was at length 
 obliged to yield to this imposing protest, which threatened 
 to degenerate into a collision, and he decided on closing 
 the theatre, 
 
 Mitchell held out his hand to the unlucky manager, and 
 offered him the hospitality of his theatre, that he might at 
 least play his double piece once before he left London. 
 For this pui-pose, he granted him one night of the Palais 
 Royal performances, and promised to arrange with me for 
 the next night. 
 
 I could refuse Mitchell nothing, and the drama was 
 represented in its entirety, after which the company 
 returned to France. 
 
 I granted this favour with the greatest pleasure, as it 
 obliged many amiable performers, and I will add that, 
 
 were a similar occasion offered me to oblige M. H 
 
 again, I would gladly accept it, if only to remind him 
 about thanking me for the first service I did him. 
 
 Fortunately for my hopes, an occasion was offered me 
 
258 MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 for performing before her Majesty, of which I gladly 
 availed myself, as it enabled me, at the same time, to do 
 some slight service in the cause of charity. The occasion 
 I will here describe, as it affords a pleasing trait of English 
 manners and customs. 
 
 A benevolent fete, the object of which was to open baths 
 for the poor, had been organized by the first ladies in the 
 land, and it was to be held at a delicious villa at Fulham, 
 belonging to Sir Arthur Webster, who had kindly placed 
 it at the disposal of the lady patronesses. 
 
 This graceful swarm of sisters of charity was composed 
 of ten duchesses, fifteen marchionesses, and some thirty 
 countesses, viscountesses, and baronesses, at the head of 
 whom was the Queen, who intended to honour the fete by 
 her presence. This was more than sufficient to dispose of 
 the tickets, however high the price might be. Still, the 
 ladies conscientiously desired to add some attraction which 
 would occupy the afternoon agreeably. The first idea was 
 to arrange a concert, and, of course, the chief singers in 
 the metropolis must be invited to join, as the company was 
 so select ; hence the committee turned their eyes to Her 
 Majesty's Theatre. 
 
 But there a difficulty arose : they must ask each artist to 
 display his talent gratuitously, and as this was begging a 
 favour, the embassy placed the fair promoters in a delicate 
 position which they hesitated to accept. 
 
 Fortunately for them, these ladies had taken care to enlist 
 the sei^ices of my manager, whose intelligent advice would 
 be most useful in arranging the fete. 
 
 Mitchell was requested to call on the artistes, and he 
 soon drew up a most remarkable list : it contained Madame 
 Grisi, Madame Castellan, Madame Alboni, Mario, Roger 
 (then engaged at Her Majesty's Theatre), Tamburini, and 
 Lablache. 
 
 After the concert a divertissement was to take place 
 which must excite the public curiosity. A large number 
 of ladies, dressed in costumes selected from all parts of the 
 world, had promised to form fancy quadrilles on the lawn, 
 in which they would perform character dances, and for 
 this purpose elegant and spacious tents were erected. 
 
THE FULHAM FESTIVAL. 259 
 
 But this spectacle could only last an hour, and there 
 were still two to be filled up, in which the guests could 
 only be offered the pleasure of walking about. It was evi- 
 dent this was not enough, especially when we remember 
 the price of the tickets was two pounds. Hence the com- 
 mittee naturally thought of my performance. 
 
 Mitchell had expected this, so he took on himself, owing 
 to our friendly connection, to obtain my consent. He did 
 more, for wishing in his turn to offer his alms to the poor, 
 he offered to build, at his own expense, a theatre in the 
 ground, and transfer to it the scenery I had at the theatre. 
 This was, in some respects, removing St. James's Theatre 
 to Fulham. 
 
 Mitchell told me of this lucky event, from which he 
 expected the best results, and I may say at once that his 
 expectations were realized. As soon as it was known that 
 the Queen would deign to be present at one of my per- 
 formances, many members of the aristocracy, who had not 
 yet visited the St. James's Theatre, sent to order boxes. 
 , On the day fixed for the Fulham festival, I started after 
 breakfast for Sir Arthur Webster's residence. My manager, 
 with the machinist of the theatre, had been at work there 
 from an early hour, so that when I arrived, I found the 
 theatre quite in readiness for me. Scenery, drops, and 
 curtain, everything, in short, was there excepting the foot- 
 lights, for which the sun was an admirable substitute. 
 
 The public were to be admitted at one, and though I was 
 not to give my performance till nearly four o'clock, all my 
 preparations were made by the time the doors opened. 
 The lady patronesses were already at their posts to receive 
 the Queen and the royal family, and were assisted by 
 stewards selected from the highest members of the aris- 
 tocracy ; among them being the Duke of Beaufort, the 
 Marquis of Abercorn, the Marquis of Douglas, &c. 
 
 While waiting my turn to act, I thought I might as well 
 take part in the fete as a simple spectator ; hence I went 
 first to the entrance gates. 
 
 I had scarce reached them when I saw the Duke of Wel- 
 lington get out of his carriage, the popular hero before 
 whom gentle and simple bowed with respectful deference. 
 
200 - MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 A few moments later appeared the Duke and Duchess of 
 Cambridge, accompanied by his Highness l^rince Frederick 
 William of Hesse, and in a group immediately following 
 these high personages, the Duchess of Kent, the Duchess 
 Bernhard of Saxe \Veimar, and the Princesses Anne and 
 Amelia were pointed out to me. 
 
 These illustrious visitors were received by the lady pa- 
 tronesses with the honours due to their rank, while the 
 band of the Royal Horse Guards played national airs. 
 
 Outside could be heard the noisy and animated crowd, 
 pressing forward, at the risk of their lives, to see the car- 
 riages with the powdered and gorgeous footmen whose 
 heads are taxed so highly by the government. 
 
 The numerous subscribers flocked in : all wished to be 
 punctual, for it was known the Queen would grace the fete 
 by her presence, and an Englishman, great or small, would 
 not at any price miss the pleasure of seeing once again the 
 features of her most gracious Majesty. 
 
 The place I had selected was most favourable for ob- 
 serving the new arrivals and not missing a single person. 
 Still, whatever attraction this brilliant panorama might 
 offer me, I was equally anxious to see the interior of the 
 fairy palace, and I was just turning away, after directing 
 a parting glance to the entrance gates. I was glad I did 
 so, for at this moment arrived, close after each other, 
 Prince Louis Napoleon, our present Emperor ; Prince Ed- 
 ward of Saxe Weimar; Prinoe Loewenstein, and several 
 other great personages whose names have escaped my 
 memory. 
 
 The gardens, the conservatories, and apartments, were 
 already crowded by all the rank and fashion of London, 
 and it was a hard matter to move about at one's ease. At 
 each moment a formidable swann of marchionesses and 
 ladies stopped the way, and forced me to yield the road to 
 them, in my fear of crushing the most dazzling dresses I 
 had ever seen. This was difficult enough, for whatever 
 way I might turn in my politeness, I ran the risk of finding 
 myself in the same dilemma, so numerous and compact was 
 the assemblage at Fulham. 
 
 At half-past two the Queen had not yet'arrived, and there 
 
ARRIVAL OF THE QUEEN. 201 
 
 was a hesitation about waiting any longer, when frenzied 
 hurrahs, rending the air for the length of a mile, announced 
 her Majesty's speedy arrival. 
 
 The church-bells immediately began ringing, the band 
 struck up " God save the Queen," while the youngest and 
 fairest ladies formed a double avenue along her Majesty's 
 route. 
 
 These preparations were scarce made ere the Queen left 
 her carriage, and moving along an immense avenue, covered 
 with red cloth, and sheltered overhead by a gay awning, 
 she walked towards the room where her arrival was only 
 awaited to commence the concert. 
 
 On reaching the room, the Queen took her place in the 
 midst of a circle formed by the lady patronesses, and the 
 concert began. 
 
 I should have gladly listened to the dulcet sounds, but, 
 unfortunately, the hall, in spite of its vast proportions, 
 could not contain all the spectators, and the crush was so 
 great that it was not only crowded, but the approaches 
 were invaded to the point where the vibration of the voices 
 finally died away. 
 
 Hence, I was obliged to content myself with hearing 
 outside the repeated applause bestowed on the talented 
 singers. Eoger, especially, obtained a real triumph by his 
 aria from Lucia di Lammermoor, and the exquisite way in 
 which he sings it is well known. The Queen herself com- 
 manded an encore. 
 
 The concert was scarcely over when, in accordance with 
 the programme, the Queen proceeded to see the quadrilles, 
 in which magnificently attired ladies were to take part. 
 
 I should have gladly witnessed this graceful sight, but 
 I thought it advisable to cast a final glance on my stage. 
 Hence, I proceeded towards the theatre, where a private 
 entrance had been pi-epared for me, and I was just going 
 up the few steps leading to it, when some one seized my 
 arm. 
 
 " Ah ! Monsieur Eobert-Houdin," a gentleman said to 
 me, with a smile, as he prepared to follow me up the stairs, 
 " that is capital — we will go in together." 
 
 " Where, sir?" I asked, much surprised at this proposal. 
 
262 MKMOIRS OF ROBERT- HO UDIX. 
 
 " Why, on your stage," the unknown said, with an air 
 of authority ; *' and I trust you will not refuse me that 
 pleasure." 
 
 *' I am vexed to deny you, sir; but that is impossible," 
 I said politely, knowing that in these grounds I could only 
 meet persons who must be treated with respect. 
 
 " Why so ?" the gentleman continued, most pressingly. 
 " I find, on the contrary, nothing easier. If we cannot go 
 in side by side, we can follow each other." 
 
 " Pardon me, sir, if I refuse your request ; but no stranger 
 is allowed on my stage." 
 
 " Very good," my assailant then said, pleasantly ; " if 
 that is the case, I will tell you my name, so that I may be 
 no longer ' a stranger ' to you. I am Baron Brunnow, the 
 Russian ambassador, as great an admirer of your mysteries 
 as I am desirous to find them out." And he continued his 
 ascent, while striving to force the barrier. " What, Mon- 
 sieur Eobert-Houdin," he added, " do you still refuse me 
 this ? I only ask one or two explanations, nothing more." 
 
 " I must persist in my refusal. Monsieur le Baron, for 
 several reasons, and, more especially, for this one " 
 
 *' What ?" 
 
 " Your perspicuity and talent are so universally recog- 
 nized, that I would not deprive you of the pleasure of 
 yourself detecting these secrets, which are hardly worthy 
 your powerful intellect." 
 
 " Ah! ah!" the Baron replied, with a laugh, " how 
 diplomatic we are. Do you wish to follow in my track ?" 
 
 " I am unworthy to do so. Monsieur le Baron." 
 
 " Very good, very good. In the mean while, I am re- 
 pulsed with loss, and forced to take my place among the 
 spectators. I yield ; but tell me. Monsieur Kobert-Houdin, 
 have you ever been in liussia ?" 
 
 " No, sir, never." 
 
 " Then give me your card." 
 
 And the ambassador wrote his name below mine. 
 
 " Here," he said, handing it me back, " if you ever feel 
 an inclination to visit our country, that card will be very 
 useful to you ; and, if I happen to be at St. Petersburg at 
 the time, come and see me, and I will procure you the 
 
A SPLENDID PICTURE. 263 
 
 lionour of performing before 'his Majesty the Emperor 
 Nicholas." 
 
 I thanked Baron Brunnow, and he left me. 
 
 During this conversation the quadrilles were being 
 danced, and before their termination the crowd had 
 occupied all the seats for my performance, save those 
 reserved for the royal family and the court. The Queen 
 herself soon arrived, and I immediately received orders to 
 begin. 
 
 Would that I had a more skilful pen with which to 
 depict in its true colours the picture which revealed itself 
 to my dazzled gaze at this moment ! At any rate, I will 
 attempt to describe it. 
 
 Imagine a large lawn rising before me in an amphi- 
 theatrical shape, and arranged like the pit of a theatre. 
 It would have been impossible to say whether the ground 
 was covered with grass or gravel, so thronged was it with 
 laidies, who were alone allowed to sit down. 
 
 In the first row, and nearest my theatre, the Queen, 
 having her royal husband on her right, was surrounded 
 by her young and graceful family. A little in the rear 
 the ladies in waiting and the lady patronesses formed the 
 royal escort. At a respectful distance behind, the wives 
 and daughters of the subscribers took their places, while 
 the gentlemen formed symmetrical groups round this vast 
 ^pace. 
 
 The sight was truly magnificent ; all the ladies, dazzling 
 with youth and beauty, covered with diamonds and flowers, 
 and rivalling each other in good taste and brilliancy, re- 
 sembled a vast enamelled prairie, on which the richest 
 flowers of spring were displayed, while the black coats 
 of the gentlemen whb enframed this smiling picture, far 
 from dulling it, only heightened the efi'ect. 
 
 On either side of the lawn, old oak-trees lent their 
 refreshing shade to this improvised theatre. 
 
 I felt a noble pride at that moment, when I thought I 
 held, as it were at my fingers' ends, the witching eyes of 
 duchesses, at times so haughty, but now so gracious, and 
 which seemed at every moment to gain fresh brilliancy at 
 the sight of the surprises I offered them. 
 
204 MEM0I1?5 OK ROBERT-HOUDIX. 
 
 In this unique performance the time jxissed so rapidly, 
 that I was quite astonished when I found myself perform- 
 ing my last trick. 
 
 Before leaving her seat, the Queen, although she had 
 several times evinced her satisfaction, sent me lier com- 
 2:)Uments through an aide-de-camp, who also expressed her 
 Majesty's desire to have a performance at Buckingham 
 Palace at a later date. 
 
 I had made every arrangement to start for town imme- 
 diately my performance was over, lest I might be delayed 
 by the carriages waiting at the park gates. An idea of 
 the number of my audience can be formed, when I say 
 it took me more than a quarter of an hour to pass through 
 the carriages drawn up in double file along the road. 
 The receipts of the festival will supply a better proof: 
 they amounted to 2500/. 
 
 The next day the royal arms appeared at the head of my 
 bills, and below, the following passage, as a species af 
 baptismal certificate : — 
 
 " Robert- Houdin, who has had the Jionour of pej forming before 
 her most gracious Majesty the Queen, Prince Albert, the Royal 
 Fam'dg, and the Nobility of the United Kingdom," &c. 
 
 My fashion only became the greater at St. James's. 
 
 We had now reached the middle of July, and no one- 
 but an Englishman can understand the possibility of ob-^ 
 taining a theatrical success during the dog-day heats. I 
 must say then, that among our brethren beyond Channel, 
 where all our customs are inverted, the season for concerts 
 is from May to the end of August, In September th& 
 aristocracy retire to their estates, where they remain the 
 other six months of the year. 
 
 I followed the example of my audience : I quitted 
 London at the beginning of September, not like them to 
 take rest, but, on the contrary, to commence a life evea 
 more agitated than the one I was leaving. I went to the 
 Manchester Theatre, where Knowles, the manager, had 
 made an engagement with me for fifteen performances. 
 
 The theatre in this city is immense ; like the vast arence- 
 of ancient Eome, it can hold an entire people. To give 
 
THE MANCHESTER THEATRE. 265' 
 
 an idea of its size, I need only say that twelve hundred 
 spectators scarcely filled the pit. 
 
 When I took possession of the stage, I was startled at 
 its huge proportions ; for I feared I should be lost upon 
 it, and my voice be unheard. 
 
 The reasons for the erection of this immense building 
 were explained to me afterwards. 
 
 Manchester, as an eminent manufacturing city, counts 
 its workmen by thousands. Well, these hardy artisans are 
 all fond of the stage, and in their hand-to-mouth existence- 
 they often give up one or two nights a week to this stylo 
 of amusement ; hence a large space was required to house 
 them all. 
 
 Judging by the size of the house, I saw that many of 
 the tricks I performed at St., James's were unsuitod for 
 the Manchester Theatre ; hence, I was obliged to draw 
 up a programme containing merely tricks that could be- 
 seen from a distance, and whose effect would strike the 
 masses. 
 
 So soon as my performances were announced, the " hands " 
 flocked in in shoals, and the pit, their favourite place, was 
 literally crammed ; while the rest of the house was nearly 
 empty. This is, however, generally the case at a first 
 performance in England ; for many people w^ait for the 
 newspaper critiques, which are sure to appear on the 
 following day, ere they make up their mind. 
 
 The audience entered the house with a noise unexampled 
 in any French theatre, except at those gratuitous per- 
 formances given in Paris on grand occasions. Before the 
 curtain was raised, I was obliged to wait, and give my 
 noisy public time to cool down, and order and silence 
 being gradually established, I began my performance. 
 
 Instead of the fashionable world, the elegant toilettes, 
 and those spectators who seemed to spread an aristocratic 
 perfume over the St. James's Theatre, I now found myself 
 in the presence of simple workmen, modestly and uni- 
 formly attired, rough in their manner, and eager for amuse- 
 ment. 
 
 But this change, far from displeasing me, stimulated my 
 energies and dash, and I was soon at my ease with my 
 
266 MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 new spectators, when I saw that they took a lively interest 
 in my experiments. Still, an accident at the outset nearly 
 aroused the popular dissatisfaction. 
 
 The Manchester artisans, far from coming to my per- 
 formances to improve their French accent, were greatly 
 surprised at hearing themselves addressed in any language 
 but their own. Protests were put in on every side, and 
 soon shouts were heard of " Speak English!" 
 
 As for my complying with the request, it was simply im- 
 possible ; for though I had been six months in London, as 
 I was always among my own countrymen, or persons who 
 talked French, I had no occasion to apply myself to the 
 English language. Still I tried to satisfy a claim that 
 appeared to me legitimate, and make up for my deficiencies 
 by boldness and good-will. I began by pronouncing the 
 few English words I knew ; when my vocabulary was at 
 fault, and I was about to run short, I invented expressions 
 which, owing to their strange shape, greatly amused my 
 audience. Often too, when in a difficulty, I boldly asked 
 them to come to my aid, and it was my turn to feel a great 
 inclination to laugh. 
 
 " How do you call it ?" I said, with a serio-comic air, 
 as I held up the article whose name I wished to know ; 
 and straightway a hundred voices responded to my appeal. 
 Nothing could be more pleasant than a lesson thus taken, 
 when my teachers, contrary to the usual fashion, paid for 
 the privilege of giving it. 
 
 Through my condescension, I succeeded in making peace 
 with my audience, who warmly cemented it on several 
 occasions by their hearty applause. The last trick espe- 
 cially created a tremendous excitement — I mean the inex- 
 haustible bottle, produced with scenery and decorations never 
 before witnessed on any stage. 
 
 The picture presented by this trick is indescribable, and 
 a skilful pencil could alone reproduce its numerous details. 
 Here, however, is a sketch as accurate as possible : — 
 
 I have already said, that although the spectators were 
 few and far between in some parts of the house, the pit 
 was crowded, and it consequently contained more than 
 twelve hundred persons. 
 
THE BUTTOJf-HOLE MANOEUVRE. 267 
 
 I own it was a really curious sight to see all these heads, 
 issuing invariably from dark-coloured waistcoats, heightened 
 by that ruddiness of face which can be only produced by 
 the beef and porter of Great Britain. 
 
 In order that I might communicate more freely with my 
 numerous spectators, the machinist had put up a plank 
 running from the stage to the end of the pit, and as I 
 also wished to address persons at the sides, two other 
 *' practicables," much shorter than the centre one, ran 
 across to the laoxes. The latter did not occupy room like 
 the first, for they were just over a passage, while those 
 who entered by it had to stoop down to reach their seats ; 
 but what was that slight inconvenience to the pleasure 
 they promised themselves in seeing the " French con- 
 juror ?" 
 
 The public were still entering the pit after my per- 
 formance had commenced, and so many persons were 
 allowed to come in that there was soon no room for the 
 laggards. 
 
 Several of them had the courage to remain bent under 
 the " practicables," and, looking out right and left in turn 
 they could follow my tricks. But one of these bold specta- 
 tors, doubtlessly fatigued by the inconvenient posture he 
 was obliged to keep, ingeniously passed his head through 
 the narrow space between the " practicable " and the 
 boxes. He managed it very cleverly, and his action was 
 precisely that of a button going into its corresponding 
 hole. 
 
 This innovation was, it may be easily supposed, gaily 
 and noisily welcomed by the audience, and the unfortunate 
 man had to endure the fate reserved for all innovators — he 
 was laughed at and " chaffed " tremendously. But he did 
 not trouble himself about that, and his coolness disarmed 
 his opponents. 
 
 Encouraged by his example, a neighbour tried the button- 
 hole manoeuvre, then a second and a third, and thus, by 
 the middle of the performance, half a dozen heads without 
 bodies were symmetrically arranged on either side the pit, 
 looking for all the world like skittle-pins waiting to be 
 knocked down. 
 
268 MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOUDIX. 
 
 I had arrived at the bottle trick, which consists in pro- 
 ducing from an. empty bottle every liquor that may bo 
 asked for, no matter the number of drinkers. 
 
 The reputation of this famous bottle was already esta- 
 blished in Manchester, for the London papers had fully 
 described the experiment. Hence, a general hurrah was 
 heard when I appeared armed with my marvellous bottle ; 
 for, in addition to the merit of the trick itself, the work- 
 men also counted on the pleasure of drinking a glass of 
 brandy, or any other liquor. 
 
 Flattered by this reception, I proceeded to the centre 
 of the pit, followed by my servant, who carried an enor- 
 mous tray of wine-glasses. But I had scarce arrived there 
 when a thousand voices began exclaiming, " Brandy, 
 whisky, gin, curagoa, shrub, rum, &c. 
 
 It was impossible to satisfy all at once ; hence, I wished 
 to proceed in rotation, and, after filling a glass, I offered it 
 to the man who I thought had made the first claim ; but the 
 gentleman was utterly disappointed. Twenty hands were 
 stretched out to dispute the precious liquor, and the glass 
 was speedily upset. The spectators, suffering the punish- 
 ment of Tantalus, shouted for the liquid, which M^as not 
 fated to reach their lips. I filled a second glass — it shared 
 the fate of the previous one, and was fought for so obsti- 
 natel}^ that the glass was broken. 
 
 Further on, the same request was made ; I complied, 
 and none could profit by it. 
 
 Without troubling myself as to the result, I poured out 
 the liquor profusely, and left my audience to fight for its 
 possession. 
 
 Soon all the glasses had disappeared, and in vain I asked 
 for them back to continue my bounty ; not a trace of them 
 was to be found. My experiment was, therefore, in danger 
 of sudden termination, when a clever spectator held out his 
 hand in the shape of a cup. 
 
 The process was as simple as it was ingenious ; it wa« 
 the egg of Christopher Columbus. The astonishment his 
 neighbours felt permitted the inventor to profit by his dis- 
 covery, which is unfortunately a rarity. 
 
 This improvised cup was unanimously accepted, but the 
 
A NOVEL CUP. 269 
 
 imitators saw their piracy suffer the same fate, minus the 
 breakage, as the glasses. 
 
 Quite tired, I was about to withdraw, when a new im- 
 provement was introduced by a spectator, as thirsty as he 
 was obstinate; throwing back his head and opening an 
 enormous mouth, he made me signs to pour in cura^oa. 
 Finding the idea original, I immediately complied. 
 
 " What capital cura9oa," the man said, as he licked his 
 lips. 
 
 This seductive exclamation was scarce heard ere every 
 mouth was open and heads thrown back ; it was enough to 
 make me fly in terror. Still, not to leave so curious a scene 
 incomplete, I took a watering tour, holding the mouth of 
 the bottle as straight as I could. At times, the bottle being 
 pushed by the neighbours, sent the liquor over a man's 
 coat, but, save this slight inconvenience, all went on 
 famously, and I fancied I had fulfilled the rude task of 
 quenching the thirst of my audience. Still, I heard a few 
 more appeals ; and a glass of whisky was earnestly im- 
 plored by one of the men who had thrust his head be- 
 tween the plank and the boxes, and seemed in a perfect 
 state of collapse. 
 
 My son, who helped me on the stage, and was one of the 
 first to hear this request, understood all the longing the 
 poor suppliant felt ; hence he ran on the stage for a glass, 
 which I filled, and he carried to the man. 
 
 But a difficulty suddenly arose'; the claimant and his 
 comrades were shut up in their pillory, side by side, and 
 could not raise thcir arms. My son, unthinkingly, offered 
 the glass, and seeing no one take it, was about to carry it 
 back on the stage ; but a groan made him turn round, and, 
 by the patient's air, he understood he was begging him to 
 fitoop down and place the glass to his lips. 
 
 This delicate operation was performed with considerable 
 Kkill on both sides, and, despite the laughter of the public, 
 «ach of the pilloried men asked the same service in turn. 
 
 This little scene appeared to have calmed the ardour of 
 the public ; and I thought it possible to terminate my 
 trick in the usual way. AVhen my bottle appears ex- 
 hausted, I end by filling an enormous glass with liquor, 
 
270 JIEMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 but a scene then began which I had been far from expect- 
 ing. 
 
 Many writers have described the saturnalia produced by 
 the frightful distribution of food and wine at the Restora- 
 tion. Well, these orgies were respectable meals compared 
 with the assault attempted to reach the glass I held in my 
 hand. 
 
 A human avalanche suddenl}^ rose before me, and from 
 this living pyramid emerged two hundred hands to dispute 
 their prey, while a hundred mouths were opened to swallow 
 it. 
 
 I thought it high time to beat a retreat, in the fear of 
 being buried beneath this shapeless mass. It was im- 
 possible ; behind me a file of thirsty drinkers barred my 
 
 The danger was pressing, for the pyramid was bending 
 forward to reach me, and might lose its balance at any 
 moment ; the cries of the unhappy beings supporting its 
 weight explained the dangerous position in which I might 
 soon find myself; hence, I rushed with my head down 
 through the mass, and reached the stage in time to notice 
 the curious sight of a falling mountain. 
 
 I will not attempt to describe the cries, shouts, and 
 applauses that accompanied this fall, while the victims 
 were loud in their abuse, and found no way of getting 
 up, save by stepping on their companions in misfortune. 
 The noise was atrocious. 
 
 The cuiiain fell on this strange scene, but shouts and 
 clapping were immediately heard: "The conjuror!'* 
 Houdin must come out to be complimented. 
 
 I obeyed this order, and when I made my appearance, 
 either because I had been too liberal with my bottle, or 
 because, -as I would sooner think, my spectators were 
 satisfied with my performance, the shouts and applause 
 broke out in such a formidable manner that I was quite 
 stupefied, while feeling acutely the pleasure they produced 
 me. For I must say that the noise of the hands struck 
 together, though so trying in itself, has nothing to shock the 
 ear of a performer ; on the contrary, the more deafening it 
 becomes, the more harmonious it appears to the recipient. 
 
A GREAT SUCCESS. 271 
 
 " The following performances were far from being so 
 tnmultuons as the first, and the reason is very simple. 
 The merchants and traders, who form the aristocracy of 
 Manchester, having heard of my performances, came with 
 their families to witness them, and their presence con- 
 tributed to keep the workmen in order. The honse as- 
 sumed a different aspect, and henceforth I could only 
 praise the quietness of the pit. 
 
 Fifteen consecutive performances had not exhausted the 
 curiosity of the inhabitants, and I could certainly have 
 given fifteen more, at least, when, to my great regret, 
 I was obliged to make way for two celebrities — Jenny 
 Lind and Koger — whom Knowles had engaged to follow 
 my performance. 
 
 Though I felt vexed at throwing such a chance awa5^, 
 on the other hand I was glad to escape as soon as possible 
 from that heavy and smoky atmosphere, which makes the 
 industrial capital of England resemble a city of chimney- 
 sweeps. I could not accustom my lungs to inhale, instead 
 of air, the flakes of soot constantly floating about. I fell 
 into a state of melancholy'- almost akin to spleen, which did 
 not abandon me till I reached the gay city of Liverpool, 
 where I intended to remain several weeks. 
 
 I was at that time at the height of my fashion ; my per- 
 formances began with applause and ended with famous 
 receipts. I need only add, that, after performing in turn 
 at the theatres of Liverpool, Birmingham, \Vorcester, 
 Cheltenham, Bristol, and Exeter, I returned to London 
 to give fifteen performances ere I started for France. 
 
 A few days after my return to St. James's Theatre, 
 the Queen, bearing in mind the desire she had expressed 
 at Fulham, commanded a performance at Buckingham 
 Palace. 
 
 This invitation being most agreeable, I willingly ac- 
 cepted it. 
 
 At eight in the morning of the appointed day, I pro- 
 ceeded to the royal residence, and the steward of the 
 palace, to whom I was directed, led me to the place se- 
 lected for my performance. It was a long and magnificent 
 picture-gallery, and a theatre had been put up, on which 
 
272 MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 the scenery represented a saloon in thierLouis Quinze style, 
 white and gold, much resembling the one I had at St. 
 James's Theatre. 
 
 My guide then showed me an adjoining dining-room, 
 "belonging, he said, to the ladies of honour, and he begged 
 me to state at what hour I should like to breakfast. 
 
 I was too busy to think about eating, for I had my per- 
 formance to prepare ; however, I ordered the meal for one 
 o'clock at any risk, and set to work directly. 
 
 Aided by my secretary (a species of factotum) and my 
 two boys, who helped me as well as their strength per- 
 mitted, I managed to overcjome all the difficulties produced 
 by the provisional arrangement of the stage. But 1 had 
 not finished all my preparations till two o'clock, and I 
 was almost dying of inanition, for, less fortunate than my 
 companions, I had eaten nothing the whole day. Hence 
 it was witli real joy I led the route to the dining-room. 
 
 As the performance was not to take place till three, I 
 had just an hour to recruit my strength. 
 
 I had scarce walked a dozen steps, when I heard some 
 one calling me. It was a palace official who wanted to 
 iipeak to me., 
 
 " There will be a ball, sir, in this gallery," he said, in 
 excellent French, " after your performance, and conse- 
 quently preparations will have to be made which maj'- 
 take more time than has been allowed for them. Hence, 
 the Queen requests you to begin your performance an 
 hour sooner; she is quite ready, and will be here di- 
 rectly." 
 
 *' I am very sorry I cannot obey her Majesty's com- 
 mands," I replied; " my preparations are not yet ended, 
 and*I must add, that " 
 
 " Monsieur Robert-Houdin," the officer replied, politely, 
 but with all the coolness of a Briton, " such are her Ma- 
 jesty's orders, and I can say no more." And without 
 awaiting anj'- explanation, he bowed to me and retired. 
 
 " We shall still have time to take a hasty snack," I said 
 to my secretary, " so off to the dining-room as quickly as 
 you please." 
 
 I had not finished the sentence, when the Queen, Prince 
 
BUCKIXGHAM PALACE. 2t3 
 
 Albert, and the royal family entered the gallery, followed 
 by a numerous suite. 
 
 At this sight I had not the courage to go further ; I re- 
 turned, and armed myself with resignation. Protected by 
 the curtain that concealed me from the spectators, I hastily 
 made my few remaining preparations, and five minutes 
 later I received the order to begin. 
 
 When the curtain rose, I was dazzled at the sight that 
 met my gaze. 
 
 Her Majesty, the Prince Consort, the Queen Dowager, 
 the Duke of Cambridge, and the royal children occupied 
 the first rank. Behind them were a portion of the Orleans 
 family; while in the rear sat the highest functionaries, 
 among whom I recognized ambassadors dressed in their 
 national costumes, and general officers covered with 
 brilliant decorations. All the ladies were in ball toilette, 
 and richly adorned with jewels. 
 
 A wonderful change came over me when I began my 
 performance : all my languor had been suddenly dispelled, 
 and I felt in excellent spirits. 
 
 Still this change can be easily explained. It is well 
 known that a performer feels no suffering while on the 
 stage ; a species of exaltation suspends all feelings foreign 
 to his part, and hunger, thirst, cold, or heat, even illness 
 itself, is forced.to retreat in the presence of this excitement, 
 though it takes its revenge afterwards. 
 
 This slight digression was necessary to explain the 
 spirits I felt in when I appeared before my noble au- 
 dience. 
 
 Kever, I believe, did I throw such dash and boldness 
 into the performance of my experiments; never, either, 
 had I an audience which appreciated them so kindly. 
 
 The Queen deigned to encourage me several times by 
 flattering remarks, while Prince Albert, ever so kind to 
 professionals, heartily clapped his hands. 
 
 I had prepared a trick, called the Bouquet a la JReine. 
 This is what the Court Journal says of it when describing 
 my performance : — .'l ii^ J' ^>»*J' 
 
 * * * *-■ •!*! '4 r, 
 
274 MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOtJDIN. 
 
 *' The Queen evinced an extreme pleasure in these ex- 
 periments ; but the one which seemed to strike her most 
 was the Bouquet a la Heine, a very graceful surprise, and 
 charmingly d propos. Her Majesty having lent her glove 
 to M. Kobert-Houdin, the latter immediately produced 
 from it a bouquet, which soon grew so large that it could 
 be scarcely held in both hands. Finally, this bouquet, 
 after being placed in a vase, and bedewed with magic 
 w^ater, was transformed into a garland, in which the 
 flowers formed the word Victoria. 
 
 " The Queen was equally astonished at the surprising 
 lucidity of M. Kobert-Houdin's son, in the experiment of 
 the second sight. The most complicated objects had been 
 prepared in order to embarrass and foil the sagacity of the 
 father and the marvellous faculty of the son. Both 
 emerged victoriously from this intellectual combat, and 
 defeated every scheme." 
 
 After the performance, the same officer with whom I 
 had already spoken came to offer me the thanks of the 
 Queen and Prince Albert. The Duchess of Orleans had 
 also been kind enough to add her compliments and those of 
 her family. 
 
 So soon as the curtain had fallen, and I was no longer 
 supported by the presence of my audience, I felt ready to 
 drop. I had taken a seat, and could hardly rise to go and 
 enjo}'' the meal which I stood in such need of. 
 
 Still, I was about to do so, when I was roused from my 
 exhaustion by the appearance of a large body of workmen, 
 who had come to take down the theatre in all speed, and 
 prepare the gallery for the ball. 
 
 My readers can judge of my embarrassment and trouble 
 when I found I must pack up all my machinery at once, 
 lest it might be broken. 
 
 I tried to protest and defer the execution of the task, 
 but it was all in vain : orders had been given, and they 
 must be obeyed. Hence, I was obliged to summon up 
 fresh energy to finish my packing, which took me an hour 
 and a half. 
 
 Six o'clock struck when all was finished. I had taken 
 no food for exactly four-and-twenty hoiu-s. 
 
THE wizard's eepast. 275 
 
 Leaning on my manager, who had taken the precaution 
 of ordering up the dinner, I dragged myself as far as the 
 dining-room. 
 
 Twilight had commencedj and the room was not yet 
 lighted, and it was with some difficulty we could distin- 
 guish a table. I fell. rather than sat down upon a chair I 
 found near me, and while my son was ringing for lights, I 
 <;ommenced a second sight performance of my own. I suc- 
 ceeded famously ; I laid my hand on a fork, and pricking 
 at whatever might be before me, found something attached 
 to the instrument. I prudently raised the object to my 
 nose, and satisfied with this inspection, I took a triumphant 
 bite. 
 
 It was delicious ; and I fancied I could recognize a salmi 
 of partridge. 
 
 I made a second exploring tour to assure myself of the 
 truth, and, after a few mouthfuls, I convinced myself I was 
 not mistaken. My manager and boys followed my example, 
 and set to work manfully. 
 
 It seems that the attendance must be slow in royal 
 houses, for before the lights arrived we had plenty of time 
 to grow used to the darkness. 
 
 However, this meal, through its originality, became a 
 ■delightful amusement, and I had seized a bottle to pour out 
 some wine, when the door of the room suddenly opened, 
 :^nd two sei"vants came in bearing candelabra. On seeing 
 us thus seated at table and eating in the coolest way, they 
 nearly fell backwards in surprise. I am persuaded they 
 took us at the moment for real sorcerers, for we had great 
 'difficulty in inducing them to remain in the room and wait 
 ■on us. 
 
 We then took our ease. The table was well served, the 
 wines were excellent, and we could rest from the fatigues 
 and emotions of the day. At the end of the dinner the 
 palace steward paid us a visit, and on hearing of my mis- 
 fortunes, he expressed his deep regret. The Queen, he 
 assured me, would be the more vexed if she heard of it, 
 because she had given the strictest orders that I should 
 want for nothing in her palace. 
 
 I replied, that I was amply repaid for a few moments of 
 
 T 2 
 
276 MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOUDIN'. 
 
 pain by the satisfaction I felt at having been called to per- 
 form before his gracious sovereign. And this was, indeed, 
 the truth. 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 An optimist Manager — Throe Spectators in a Room— A ma|?ioal Col- 
 lation — The Colchester Public and the Nuts — I return to France — I 
 give up my Theatre— A Farewell Tour- 1 retire to St. Gervais — 
 An Academician's Predictions. 
 
 A SHORT time after this performance my engagement with 
 Mitchell terminated. 
 
 Instead of returning to France, as I should much have 
 desired after so lengthened an absence, I thought it better 
 to continue my excursions in the English provinces till the 
 end of September, when I hoped to reopen my theatre at 
 Paris. 
 
 Consequently I drew up an itinerary, in which the first 
 station would be Cambridge, celebrated for its university ; 
 and set out. 
 
 Possibly the reader may feel no inclination to follow rae 
 on this tour, but he may be assured I will not drag 
 him after me, especially as my second passage throiigh 
 England presents hardly any details worth mentioning 
 here. I will content myself with recounting a few in- 
 cidents, and among them a small adventure that happened 
 to me, as it may serve for a lesson to all professionals, that 
 it is dangerous both to their self-esteem and interests to- 
 drain public curiosity too deep in the various places whither 
 the hope of good receipts attracts them. 
 
 I intended to go straight from London to Cambridge, 
 but, half way, I took a fancy to stop and give a few per- 
 formances at Hertford, a town containing some ten thou- 
 sand people. 
 
 My two first performances were most successful, but on 
 the third, seeing that the number of spectators had gi'eatly 
 fallen off, I decided on giving no more. 
 
 My manager argued against this resolution, and offered 
 me reasons which certainlv had some value. 
 
AN OPTIMIST. 277 
 
 ■" I assure you, sir," lie said, " that nothing is spoken of 
 in the town but your performance. Eveiy one is asking if 
 you are going to perform to-morrow, and two young gentle- 
 men have already begged me to keep them places if you 
 intend to remain for to-morrow." 
 
 Genet, my manager, was ceiiainly the best fellow in the 
 world ; but I ought to have distrusted his counsels, know- 
 ing, as I did, his disposition to look at the bright side of 
 everything. He was the incarnation of optimism, and the 
 calculations he made about this performance went far 
 beyond those of the inkstand inventor. To hear him talk, 
 we should have to double the price of places, and increase 
 our staff to keep back the crowed that would rush to 
 ;see me. 
 
 While jesting Genet on his exaggerated ideas, I still 
 ^llow'cd him to send out the bills for the performance he so 
 much desired. 
 
 The next evening, at half-past seven, I went, according 
 "to my usual custom, to order the box-office to be opened, 
 :and the public allowed admission. The performance would 
 commence at eight precisel}'. 
 
 I found my manager quite alone — not a soul had arrived 
 jet. Still, that did not prevent him greeting me with a 
 Tadiant air — though that was his normal condition. 
 
 " No one has yet come to the theatre," he said, rubbing 
 his hands, as if giving me first-rate intelligence ; " but that 
 is a good sign." 
 
 " The deuce it is ! Come, my dear Genet, I must have 
 ihat proved." 
 
 "It is easy enough to understand. You must have 
 Ti£)ticed, sir, that at our former perfoimiances we only had 
 ihe country gentry." 
 
 " Nothing proves it was so ; still I will allow it. Now 
 _go on." 
 
 " Well, it is very simple. The tradespeople have not 
 come to see you yet, and I expect them to-night. They 
 are always so busy that they usually defer a pleasure till 
 ihe last moment. Have patience, and you will soon see 
 the nish we shall have to contend against." 
 
 And he looked towards the entrance-door like a man 
 
278 MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 perfectly convinced that his predictions would be ful- 
 
 We had still half an hour — more than sufficient to fill 
 the room — so I waited. But this half-hour passed in vain 
 expectation. Not a soul came to the box-office. 
 
 " It is now eight," I said, drawing out my watch, " and 
 no spectators have arrived. What do voti' say to that, 
 Genet?" ^ ^ " - ' 
 
 " Oh, sir ! your watch is too fast — I am sure of if ^ 
 for " 
 
 My manager was about to support his allegation by some 
 proof drawn from his brain, when the town-hall clock 
 struck. G^net, finding his reasons exhausted, contented 
 himself with silence, while casting a despairing glance 
 towards the door. 
 
 At length T saw his face grow purple with delight. 
 
 " Ah ! I said so," he exclaimed, pointing to two young; 
 men coming towards us. *' The public are beginning to 
 arrive. They doubtlessly mistook the hour. Come, every 
 man to his post !" 
 
 Genet's joy did not last long, for he soon recognized in 
 these visitors the two young gentlemen who had taken 
 their places the previous day. 
 
 " You have kept our seats?" they said to the optimist^ 
 as they hurried in. 
 
 " Yes, gentlemen — yes ; you can go in," Genet replied, 
 making an imperceptible griniace. And he led them in 
 complacently, while striving to explain the emptiness of 
 the room by saying it was only momentary. He had 
 hardly returned to the box office, when a gentleman of a 
 certain age hurried up the steps, and rushed towards the- 
 pay-place with a haste my previous success probably justi- 
 fied. 
 
 *' Is there any room left ?" he asked in a panting voice. 
 
 My poor Genet did not know how to reply to this 
 question, which seemed a jest ; he therefore merely muttered 
 one of those commonplace phrases usually employed to gain 
 time. 
 
 " Well, sir, to tell you the truth — I should say " 
 
 •' I know — I know : there are no places left. I expected 
 
AN AMATEUR ORCHESTRA.' 279 
 
 it. But be kind enough to let me go in, and I will find 
 some corner to stand in." 
 
 " But, sir, allow me to tell you — — " 
 
 " No matter." 
 
 *' But if, on tlie contrary -" 
 
 " All the better. There, give me a stall- ticket, and I 
 will see if I can find room in the passage." 
 
 Being at the end of his arguments. Genet supplied the 
 ticket. 
 
 You can imagine the surprise of the eager visitor when, 
 on entering the house, he found that he formed in his own 
 person exactly a third of the audience. 
 
 For my own part, I soon made up my mind. After com- 
 pounding with my conscience, by granting the usual 
 quarter of an hour's grace to the laggards, and seeing no 
 one come, I informed my three spectators that, being only 
 anxious to be agreeable to them, I would perform. 
 
 This unexpected news produced a triple hurrah in the 
 house in the shape of thanks. 
 
 My orchestra consisted of eight amateurs of the town ; 
 and these gentlemen, as a compliment to my French origin, 
 always played as overture the " Girondins " and the " Mar- 
 seillaise," with the assistance of the big drum, and never 
 failed to terminate the performance with " God save the 
 Queen." 
 
 The patriotic introduction over, I began my perfonn- 
 ance. 
 
 My audience were collected on the first row of stalls, so 
 that, in order to address my explanations to them, I should 
 have had to keep my head constantly down, which would 
 have eventually become troublesome. Hence I determined 
 to look round the house, and address the benches just as if 
 they were well covered. 
 
 For their part, my audience made all possible row to 
 prove their satisfaction. They stamped, applauded, 
 shouted, so as almost to make me believe the house 
 full. 
 
 The whole performance was a mutual exchange of com- 
 pliments, and the spectators saw the last of my tricks arrive 
 with considerable regret. This, however, was not an- 
 
280 MEMOIRS OP ROBERT-HOUDIN. 1 
 
 iioiinced on my bills, for I reserved it as the best of my 
 surprises. 
 
 " Gentlemen," I said to my audience, " as I require 
 three persons ix) assist me in performing this trick, will 
 any gentlemen present have the kindness to come on the 
 stage?" 
 
 At this comic invitation the public rose en masse, and 
 obligingly placed themselves at my disposal. 
 
 After my three assistants had promised to stand at the 
 front of the stage and not look round, I gave each an empty 
 glass, announcing that it would be filled with excellent 
 punch so soon as they expressed the wish, and I added 
 that, to facilitate the performance, they must repeat after 
 me a few cabalistic words borrowed from the enchanter 
 Merlin. 
 
 This jest was only proposed in order to gain time, for 
 while we were performing it with bursts of laughter, 
 a change was being carried out behind my kind assistants. 
 The table on which I did my tricks had been removed, 
 and another brought forward on which an excellent supper 
 was spread, and a bowl of punch crackled in the centre. 
 
 Genet, clothed in black and a white cravat, and armed 
 with a spoon, was stimulating a spectral flame, and when 
 luy assistants expressed a wish to see their glasses filled 
 with punch, he said in his most solemn voice — 
 
 " Turn round, and your wishes will be accomplished." 
 
 My musicians had been spectators of this little scene, so 
 T begged them to join us, and try the virtues of my inex- 
 haustible bowl. This invitation was joyfully accepted, the 
 table was surrounded, the glasses were filled and emptied, 
 and we passed two agreeable hours in performing this 
 experiment. 
 
 Owing to the prodigality of my "inexhaustible bowl of 
 punch," my guests were all affected by a tender expansion. 
 They almost embraced on parting ; however, they con- 
 tented themselves with shaking hands and vowing an 
 undying friendship. 
 
 The instruction to be drawn from this anecdote is that, 
 in offering a farewell to the public, you should not wait 
 till there are none left to receive it. 
 
NUTS TO CRACK. 281 
 
 On leaving Hertford, I went to Cambridge, thence to 
 Bury St. Edmunds, Ipswich, and Colchester, always taking 
 receipts proportionate to the importance of the towns. I 
 have only three souvenirs of those five towns : the failure 
 at Hertford, the enthusiastic reception from the Cambridge 
 students, and the nuts at Colchester. 
 
 But, it will be asked, what connection can there be be- 
 tween nuts and a magical performance. A word will ex- 
 plain the fact to the reader, and all the tribulations this 
 fruit caused me. 
 
 It is the custom at Colchester that when a body goes to 
 the theatre he fills his pocket with nuts. These are 
 cracked and eaten during the performance as a species of 
 refreshment. Men and women both suffer from this 
 cracking mania, so that a rolling fire is kept up through 
 the house, often powerful enough to drown the voice. 
 
 Nothing affected my nerves so much as this incessant 
 cracking ; my first performance suffered from it, and 
 despite my eff'orts to master myself, I went through the 
 whole performance in a state of irritation. I consented, 
 however, to perform a second time, but the manager could 
 not induce me to promise a third. Although he assured 
 me that his actors had grown quite accustomed to this 
 strange music, and that even a minor actor might often be 
 seen on the stage calmly cracking a nut while awaiting 
 the reply, I could not stand it any longer, and left the 
 town.* 
 
 Most assuredly, the theatres in the smaller English towns 
 are not equal to those in the cities. 
 
 At Colchester my tour was to end, and I was about 
 starting for France, when Knowles, the Manchester direc- 
 tor, remembering my success at his theatre, proposed to 
 me to take a trip with him through Ireland and Scotland. 
 ^Ve had then reached the month of June, 1849, when Paris 
 was more than ever agitated by political questions ; and 
 theatres only existed in France as memorials of the past. I 
 
 * It would not have been surprising in this oysterous, boisterous 
 town (as Hook christened it) to find M. Houdin astonishing the 
 natives, but tlie contrary, it appears, took place : the natives decidedly 
 astonished him. 
 
282 MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 did not waste much time in forming a decision ; I started 
 with my English manager. 
 
 Our excursion lasted no less than four months, and I did 
 not step on French soil again till the end of October. 
 
 Need I describe the delight with which I presented m}"- 
 self once more before a Parisian audience, whose kind 
 patronage I had not forgotten ? Those professional men 
 who, like myself, have been long absent from Paris, will 
 understand it, for they know nothing is so sweet to the 
 heart as the applause given by a man's fellow-citizens. 
 
 Unfortunately, when I recommenced my performances, 
 I noticed with sorrow the change which had taken place 
 in my health: the performances which I formerly went 
 through with no fatigue, now caused me a painful state of 
 exhaustion. 
 
 It was easy to find a reason for this disagreeable change ; 
 fatigue, the incessant thought connected with my per- 
 formances, and still more the foggy atmosphere of England, 
 had exhausted my strength. My life had been in some 
 degree used up during my emigration. I should require a 
 lengthened rest to restore it, and I could not think of it at 
 this period, the best part of the season. I could only take 
 precautions for the future, in case I should find myself 
 suddenly compelled by my health to stop ; so I decided on 
 educating a pupil to take my place in case of need, and 
 whose labour might assist me in the mean while. 
 
 A young man of pleasing exterior, and whose talent I 
 was acquainted with, seemed to offer the conditions I re- 
 quired. My proposals suited him, and he immediately 
 joined me. The future sleight-of-hand professor evinced 
 great aptitude and zeal in learning my lessons. I em- 
 ployed him in a short time to prepare my experiments, 
 then he aided me in the management of my theatre, and 
 when the summer of 1850 arrived, instead of closing my 
 rooms as usual, I continued to send out my bills : the only 
 change was that Hamilton's name was substituted for mine. 
 
 Considering his short period of study, my provisional 
 substitute could not be yet very expert ; still, he pleased, 
 and the public were satisfied. During this period I en- 
 joyed in the country a repose that had been long desired. 
 
A WELCOME REST. 283 
 
 ■A man who has made a long journey never feels the 
 fatigue so acutely as when he proposes to continue his 
 journey after a few moments of rest. This was what I ex- 
 perienced when, my holiday being ended, I was obliged to 
 leave the country to begin again the feverish existence of a 
 theatre. I never felt such lassitude ; never had I a greater 
 desire to enjoy perfect liberty, to renounce those fatigues 
 of an appointed hour, which may be justly called the collar 
 of misery. 
 
 At this word, I see many of my readers start. " Why," 
 they will say, " thus call a labour whose object is to 
 astonish an audience, and the result to gain honour and 
 profit?" 
 
 I find myself compelled to prove the justice of the ex- 
 pression. 
 
 The reader will easily understand that the fatigue, pre- 
 occupation, and responsibility attached to a magical per- 
 formance do not prevent the conjuror being subjected to 
 the ordinary sufi'erings of humanity. Kow, whatever may 
 be the nature of his suiferings or his grief, he must, at an 
 appointed hour each night, hide them in his bosom, and 
 assume the mask of happiness and health. 
 
 This is in itself a painful task, but, believe me, reader, 
 it is not all ; he must — and this is applicable to all profes- 
 sionals — under penalty of ruin, enliven, animate, and 
 excite the public, or, in other words, give them pleasure 
 for their money. 
 
 Can this be always equally easy ? In truth, the position 
 artists hold would be intolerable, did not they find in the 
 sympathy and applause of the public a gentle recompense 
 which makes them forget the minor miseries of life. 
 
 I may say it with pride, to the last moment of my artist 
 life I only met with sympathy and kindness ; but the more 
 I strove to render myself ever worthy of them, the more I 
 felt my strength failing me, and the more, too, increased 
 my desire to live in retirement and freedom. 
 
 At last, in January, 1862, judging Hamilton fit to suc- 
 ceed me, I decided on giving up my establishment to him, 
 and in order that my theatre, the fruit of my labours, 
 
284 MKM0IK3 OF ROBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 might remain in the family, two contracts were signed ; 
 and on the same day my pupil became my brother-in-law 
 and my successor. 
 
 Still, however desirous an actor may be of retiring into 
 private life, he very rarely renounces at once and for ever 
 the applause which has become an agreeable stimulant for 
 liim. Hence, no surprise will be felt on learning that, 
 after a few months' rest, I proposed to give a few more per- 
 formances, as a final parting from the public. 
 
 As I had not yet visited Germany, I proceeded to the 
 banks of the Rhine. Desiring no unnecessary fatigue;, I 
 resolved to reserve to myself the choice of the places 
 where I would perform. I therefore stopped, in preference, 
 at those festal places called " Baths," and visited in turn, 
 Baden, Wiesbaden, Honiburg, Aix-la-Chapelle, and Spa. 
 Nearly each of my performances was honoured by the 
 presence of one or more of the princes r«gnant of the Ger- 
 manic Confederation. 
 
 It was my intention to return to Fiance after ni}^ per- 
 formances at Spa, but, at the request of M. Engel, manager 
 of a theatre at Berlin, I retraced my steps, and started for 
 the capital of Prussia. 
 
 I had made a six weeks' engagement with M. Engel ; 
 but my success, and the excellent terms on which I stood 
 with my manager, induced me to prolong it for three 
 months. I could not have taken a more brilliant leave of 
 the public : for, probably, I never saw greater crowds run 
 after my performances. Thus the reception I obtained 
 from the Berliner will ever remain one of my pleasantest 
 reminiscences. 
 
 From Berlin I proceeded straight to the neighbourhood 
 ■of Blois, to the retreat I had selected. 
 
 Whatever might be my satisfaction in enjoying the free- 
 dom I had so long desired, it would soon have undergone 
 the fate common to all our pleasures, and have grown flat 
 by the mere eifect of enjoyment, had I not reserved 
 for these blessed hours of leisure studies in which I 
 hoped to find a perennial source of amusement. After 
 gaining a fortune by labours unjustly regarded as fu- 
 tile, I was about to devote myself to serious researches. 
 
AN. m>JU.ST JUl-'IK, 
 
 od with til*; 
 
 m 
 
 sorcerer^ e none like the 
 
THE MARABOUTS. 287 
 
 plication of electricity to mechanism, and having learned 
 that the jury considered me worthy a reward, I would 
 not quit Paris till I had received it. Such was, at least, 
 the motive on \Yhich I based a new refusal, accompanied by 
 my regret. 
 
 But .the colonel kept these excuses still in mind, and in 
 June, 1856, he presented them to me like a bill to be met. 
 This time I had exhausted my excuses, and though it cost 
 me much to quit my retreat and brave the caprices of the 
 Mediterranean in the worst month of the year, I decided on 
 going. 
 
 It was settled that I should reach Algiers by the next 
 27 th of September, the day on which the great fetes an- 
 nually offered by the capital of Algeria to the Arabs would 
 commence. 
 
 I must say that I was much influenced in my deter- 
 mination by the knowledge that my mission to Algeria had 
 a quasi-political character. I, a simple conjuror, was proud 
 of being able to render my country a service. 
 
 It is known that the majority of revolts which have to 
 be suppressed in Algeria are excited by intriguers, who say 
 they are inspired by the Prophet, and are regarded by the 
 Arabs as envoys of God on earth to deliver them from the 
 oppression of the Roumi (Christians). 
 
 These false prophets and holy Maral30uts, who are no 
 more sorcerers than I am, and indeed even less so, still con- 
 trive to influence the fanaticism of their co-religionists by 
 tricks as primitive as are the spectators before whom they 
 are performed. 
 
 The government was, therefore, anxious to destroy their 
 pernicious influence, and reckoned on me to do so. They 
 hoped, with reason, by the aid of my experiments, to prove 
 to the Arabs that the tricks of their Marabouts were mere 
 child's play, and owing to their simplicity could not 
 be done by an envoy from Heaven, which also led us 
 very naturally to show them that we are their superiors 
 in everything, and, as for sorcerers, there are none like the 
 Prench. 
 
 Presently I will show the success obtained by these 
 skilful tactics. 
 
288 MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 Three months were to elapse between the day of my ac- 
 ceptance and that of my departure, which I employed in 
 arranging a complete arsenal of my best tricks, and left St. 
 Gervais on the 10th of September. 
 
 I will give no account of my passage, further than to say 
 no sooner was I at sea than I wished I had arrived, and, 
 after thirty-six hours' navigation, I greeted the capital of 
 our colony with indescribable delight. 
 
 I was expected ; an officer came off in an elegant boat 
 and took me to the Hotel d'Orient, where a handsome suite 
 of rooms was retained for me. 
 
 The government had behaved nobly, for I was lodged 
 like a prince. From the window of my sitting-room I 
 could survey the roads of Algiers, and the prospect was 
 only bounded by the horizon. The sea is always lovely 
 when seen, from a window; thus each morning I admired 
 it, and pardoned its past slight insults. 
 
 From my hotel I also gazed on the magnificent Govern- 
 ment-square, planted with orange-trees, such as cannot be 
 seen in France. They were at this season laden with 
 flowers and perfectly ripe fruit. 
 
 Mme. Kobert-Houdin and myself delighted in sitting be- 
 neath their shade at nightfall and eating an ice before the 
 doorway of an Algerian Tortoni, while inhaling the per- 
 fumed breeze borne to us from the sea. Next to this 
 pleasure, nothing interested us so much as observing the 
 immense variety of persons moving around us. 
 
 The five quarters of the world had sent their represent- 
 atives to Algeria : there were French, Spaniards, Maltese, 
 Italians, Germans, Swiss, Prussians, Belgians, Portuguese, 
 Poles, Russians, English, and Americans, all forming a 
 portion of the population of Algeria. Add to these 
 the different Arabic types, such as Moors, Kabyles, 
 Koulougly, Biskri, Mozabites, negroes, Arab Jews, &c., 
 and an idea may be fonned of the sight unrolled before 
 our eyes. 
 
 When I arrived at Algiers, M. de Neveu told me that as a 
 portion of Kabylia had revolted, the marshal-governor had 
 started with an expeditionary corps to suppress it. In con- 
 sequence of this, the fetes to which the Arab chiefs were to 
 
A WELCOME DELAY. 289 
 
 "he invited were deferred for a month, and my performances 
 put off for the same period. 
 
 "I have now to ask you," the colonel added, "if you 
 will sign this new engagement ?" 
 
 " Mon colonel !" I replied, in a jocular tone, " I consider 
 myself in military employ. As I depend on the governor, 
 I will be faithful to my post, whatever may happen." 
 
 " Very good, M. Eobert-Houdin," the colonel said, with 
 a laugh; " you behave like a true French soldier, and the 
 colony will owe you thanks for it. At the same time, we 
 will try to make your service in Algeria as light as possible. 
 We have given orders at your hotel that madame and your- 
 self may have no cause to regret the comfort you left to 
 come here." (I have forgotten to say that, in signing my 
 engagement, I stipulated that Mme. Houdin should accom- 
 pany me.) " If, while awaiting your official performances, 
 you might like to employ your leisure evenings at the town 
 theatre, the governor places it at your service thrice a week, 
 the other days belonging to the opei'atic company." 
 
 This proposition suited me admirably, and I saw three 
 advantages in it : the first, to get my hand in, for I had left 
 the stage for two years ; the second, to try the effect of my 
 experiments on the town Arabs ; the third, to pocket a very 
 welcome sum of money. I accepted ; but when I offered 
 my thanks to IM. de Keveu, he said, 
 
 " It is our place to thank you, for, by giving performances 
 at Algiers during the Kabylian expedition, you render us a 
 gi*eat service." 
 
 " How, colonel?" 
 
 " By employing the minds of the Algerines, we prevent 
 them speculating on the eventualities of the campaign, which 
 might be very injurious to the goveinment." 
 
 " That being so, I will set to work at once." 
 
 The colonel started the next day to join the marshal^ 
 having previously handed me over to the civil authorities ; 
 that is to say, he had introduced me to M. de Guiroye, 
 mayor of the town, who displayed extreme kindness in faci- 
 litating the arrangements for my performances. 
 
 It might be reasonably supposed that, owing to the high 
 patronage that supported me, I need only follow a path be- 
 
 u 
 
290 MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 strewn with flowers, to use the language of the poets. But* 
 it was not so : I had to endure many annoyances, which 
 might have vexed me greatly, had I not possessed a stock 
 of philosophy beyond ordinary mortals. 
 
 M. D , privileged manager of the Bab-Azoun ITieatre, 
 
 had commenced the season with an operatic company, and, 
 fearing lest the success of a stranger on his stage might 
 injure his own prospects, he complained about it to the 
 authorities. 
 
 The mayor could offer him no other consolation than say- 
 ing the government ordered it. M. D protested, and 
 
 even threatened to throw up the management, but the mayor 
 adhered to his inflexible decision. 
 
 The city of Algiers thus suddenly saw itself exposed to a 
 total managerial eclipse, when, through a spirit of concilia- 
 tion, 1 oflered to perfonn only twice a week, and defer be- 
 ginning till the operatic debut was over. 
 
 This concession slightly calmed the impresario, though 
 it did not gain me his good graces. M. D ever main- 
 tained a coldness towards me, which evidenced his dissatis- 
 faction, but I held an independent position, and this coolness 
 did not render me vnretched. 
 
 I also managed to escape from the annoyances aroused by 
 certain subalterns of the stage, and, being determined that 
 ^^y voyage to Algiers should be a real pleasure trip, I 
 laughed at these puny attacks. Besides, my attention was 
 directed to a matter far more interesting to me. 
 
 The journals had announced my performances, and this 
 statement immediately aroused a paper warfare in the 
 Algerian press, the strangeness of which contributed no 
 little to give increased publicity to my representations. 
 
 " Eobert-Houdin," one paper said, " cannot be at Algiers, 
 for we see daily announced in the Paris papers, ' Eobert- 
 Houdin every evening at eight o'clock.' " 
 
 " And why," another journal asked, pleasantly, " should 
 not Eobert-Houdin perform in Algiers and yet remain all 
 the while in Paris ? Do we not know that this sorcerer 
 possesses the gift of ubiquity, and that he often gives 
 performances at Paris, Eome, and Moscow on the same 
 evening ?" 
 
THE GRAND F^TES. 291 
 
 The discussion went on thus for several days, some denj^- 
 ing my presence, others affirming it. 
 
 The public of Algiers were willing to accept this fact as 
 one of those pleasantries generally denominated canards, but 
 they also wished to be sure of not being victims of a delusion 
 if they came to the theatre. 
 
 At length the matter was taken up seriously, and the 
 ♦editors explained that Mr. Hamilton, on succeeding his 
 brother-in law, had kept up the old title ; so that Hohert- 
 Houdin was a term equally applicable to the performer and 
 to the style of perfonnance. 
 
 This curious discussion, the annoyances occasioned by 
 
 M. D , and, as I hope I may believe, the attraction of 
 
 my performance, brought me an enormous audience. All 
 the tickets were bought beforehand, and the house was 
 stiflingly hot, for the centigrade thermometer denoted 35°, 
 and we were in the middle of September. 
 
 Poor spectators, how I pitied them ! To judge from my 
 own sensations, they must all have been mummified on the 
 spot. I feared that the enthusiasm, as is the general rule, 
 would be in an inverse ratio to the temperature ; but I had 
 no cause to complain of my reception, and I drew from this 
 success a happy omen for the future. 
 
 In order not to deprive my " official representations," as 
 M. de Neveu termed them, of the interest the reader will 
 expect from them, I will give no details of those which pre- 
 ceded them, and were so many trial balloons. I may 
 say the Arabs who came were very few ; for these men, 
 with their indolent and sensual temper, consider the 
 happiness of lying on a mat and smoking far above a 
 spectacle. 
 
 Hence the governor, guided by the profound knowledge 
 he had of their character, never invited them to a fete : he 
 sent them a military summons. This occurred for my 
 representations. 
 
 As M. de Neveu had announced to me, the expeditionary 
 corps returned to Algiers on the 20th of October, and the 
 fetes, suspended by the campaign, were fixed for the 27th. 
 Messengers were sent off to all parts of the colony, and on 
 the appointed day the chiefs of the tribes, accompanied by 
 
 u 2 
 
292 MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOUDIN'. 
 
 a numerous suite, found themselves in the presence of th» 
 marshal-governor. 
 
 These autumnal fetes, the most brilliant held in Algeria^ 
 and probably unrivalled in any country of the world, pre- 
 sent a picturesque and really remarkable scene. 
 
 I should like to be able to paint here the strange as]3ect 
 the capital assumed on the arrival of the goum.'i of the Tell 
 and the South. The native camp, an inextricable pell-mell 
 of huts for men and horses, ottering a thousand contrasts, 
 strange as they were fascinating ; the brilliant cortege of 
 the governor-general, in the midst of which the Arab chiefs, 
 with their stern faces, attracted the eye by the luxury of 
 their costumes, the beauty of their horses, and the brilliancy 
 of their gold-broidered trappings ; and the marvellous hip- 
 podrome, situated between the sea, the smiling hill of 
 Mustapha, and the plain of Hussein-Dey, over which 
 gloomy mountains cast a sombre shade. But I will say 
 nothing about all this. Kor will I describe those military 
 exercises called a Fantasia, in which twelve hundred x\rabs,. 
 mounted on splendid steeds, and uttering wild cries as if 
 on the battle-field, displayed theut most vigour, skill, and 
 intelligence men can possess. Nor will 1 speak of the 
 admirable exhibition of Arab stallions, each exciting the 
 most lively satisfaction as it passed ; for all this has been 
 already described, and I am longing to reach my own per- 
 formances, which, I may say, formed not the least interest- 
 ing part of this fete. I will only allude to one circumstance,, 
 which struck me peculiarly. 
 
 I saw a horseman, mounted on a magnificent Arab steed,. 
 beat all the winners in a final heat. This horseman was. 
 twelve years of age, and could pass under his horse without 
 stooping. 
 
 The races lasted three days, and I was to give my per- 
 formances at the end of the second and third. 
 
 Before beginning, I will say a word about the Algiers 
 theatre. 
 
 It is a very neat house, in the style of the Varietes at 
 Paris, and decorated with considerable taste. It is situated 
 at the extremity of the Ivue Bab-Azonn, on the place bearing 
 that name, and the facade is peculiarly elegant. 
 
A STRANGE AUDIENCE. 29'J 
 
 On first seeing this immense edifice, it would be assumed 
 that the interior was enormous : but it is nothing of llio 
 sort. The architect has sacrificed everything to the claims 
 of public order and ventilation, while the stairs, passages, 
 and green-room occupy as much space as the house itself. 
 Perhaps ihe architect took into consideration the limited 
 number of theatre-going people in Algiers, and thought 
 that a small house would offer performers a better chance 
 •of success. 
 
 On the 28th of October, the day appointed for my first 
 performance before the Arabs, I reached my post at an 
 ■early hour, and could enjoy the sight of their entrance into 
 the theatre. 
 
 Each goum, drawn up in companies, was introduced se- 
 parately, and led in perfect order to the places chosen for 
 it in advance. Then came the turn of the chiefs, who seated 
 themselves with all the gravity becoming their character. 
 
 Their introduction lasted some time, for these sons of 
 nature could not understand that they were boxed up thus, 
 «ide by side, to enjoy a spectacle, and our comfortable seats, 
 far from seeming so to them, bothered them strangely. I 
 saw them fidgeting about for some time, and trying to tuck 
 their legs under them, after the fashion of European tailors. 
 
 Marshal Eandon, with his family and suite, occupied the 
 two stage-boxes to the right of the stage, while the prefect 
 -and other civilian authorities sat exactly facing him.- As 
 for Colonel du Keveu, he was everywhere, as the arranger 
 of the festival. 
 
 The ca'ids, agas, bash-agas, and other titled Arabs, held 
 the places of honour, for they occupied the orchestra stalls 
 rand the dress circle. 
 
 In the midst of them were several privileged officers, and, 
 lastly, the interpreters were mingled among the spectators, 
 io translate my remarks to them. 
 
 I was also told that several curious people, having been 
 unable to procure tickets, had assumed the Arab burnous, 
 and, binding the camel's-hair cord round their foreheads, 
 had slipped in among their new co-religionists. 
 
 This strange medley of spectators was indeed a most 
 ■curious sight. The dress circle, more especially, presented 
 
294 MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-IIOUDIN. 
 
 an appearance as grand as it was imposing. Some sixty 
 Arab chiefs, clothed in their red mantles (the symbol of 
 their submission to France), on which one or more decora- 
 tions glistened, gravely awaited my perfonnance with 
 majestic dignity. 
 
 , I have performed before many brilliant assemblies, but 
 never before one which struck me so much as this. How- 
 ever, the impression I felt on the rise of the curtain, far 
 from paralyzing me, on the contrary, inspired me with a 
 lively sympathy for the spectators, whose faces seemed sa 
 well prepared to accept the marvels promised them. As 
 soon as 1 walked on the stage, 1 felt quite at my ease, and 
 enjoyed, in anticipation, the sight I was going to amuse 
 myself with. 
 
 I felt, I confess, rather inclined to laugh at myself and 
 my audience, for I stepped forth, wand in hand, with all 
 the gravity of a real sorcerer. Still, I did not give way, 
 for I was here not merely to amuse a curious and kind 
 public, I must produce a startling eifect upon coarse minds 
 and prejudices, for I was enacting the part of a French 
 Marabout. 
 
 Compared with the simple tricks of their pretended 
 sorcerers, my experiments must appear perfect miracles to 
 the Arabs. 
 
 I commenced my performance in the most profound, I 
 might almost say religious, silence, and the attention of 
 the spectators was so great that they seemed petrified. 
 Their fingers alone, moving nervously'', played with the 
 beads of their rosaries, while they were, doubtlessly, in- 
 voking the protection of the Most High. 
 
 This apathetic condition did not suit me, for I had not 
 come to Algeria to visit a waxwork exhibition. I wanted 
 movement, animation, life in fact, around me. 
 
 I changed my batteries, and, instead of generalizing my 
 remarks, I addressed them more especially to some of the 
 Arabs, whom I stimulated by my words, and still more by 
 my actions. The astonishment then gave way to a more 
 expressive feeling, which was soon evinced by noisy out- 
 bursts. 
 
 This was especially the case when I produced cannon- 
 
THE INEXHAUSTIBLE COFFEE. 295 
 
 "balls from a hat, for my spectators, laying aside tlieir 
 gravity, expressed their delighted admiration by the 
 strangest and most energetic gestures. 
 
 Then came— greeted by the same snccess — the bouquet 
 of flowers, produced instantaneously from a hat; the 
 cornucopia^ supplying a multitude of objects, which I dis- 
 tributed, though unable to satisfy the repeated demands 
 made on all sides, and still more by those who had their 
 hands full already ; the five-franc pieces^ sent across the 
 theatre into a crystal box suspended above the spec- 
 tators. 
 
 One trick I should much have liked to perform was the 
 inexhaustible bottle, so appreciated by the Parisians and the 
 Manchester " hands ;" but I could not employ it in this 
 performance, for it is well known the followers of Muham- 
 mad drink no fermented liquor — at least not publiclyT 
 Hence, I substituted the following with considerable ad- 
 vantage. 
 
 I took a silver cup, like those called " punch-bowls " in 
 the Parisian cafes. I unscrewed the foot, and passing my 
 wand through it, showed that the vessel contained nothing ; 
 then, having refitted the two parts, I went to the centre of 
 the pit, when, at my command, the bowl was magically 
 filled with sweetmeats, which were found excellent. 
 
 The sweetmeats exhausted, I turned the bowl over, and 
 proposed to fill it with excellent coffee ; so, gravely 
 passing my hand thrice over the bowl, a dense vapour 
 immediately issued from it, and announced the presence of 
 the precious liquid. The bowl was full of boiling coffee, 
 which I poured into cups, and offered to my astounded 
 spectators. 
 
 The first cups were only accepted, so to speak, under 
 protest ; for not an Arab would consent to moisten his 
 lips with a beverage which he thought came straight 
 from Shaitan's kitchen ; but, insensibly seduced by the 
 perfume of their favourite liquoi-, and urged by the 
 interpreters, some of the boldest decided on tasting the 
 magic liquor, and all soon followed their example. 
 
 The vessel, rapidly emptied, was repeatedly filled again 
 with equal rapidity ; and it satisfied all demands, like my 
 
296 MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-IIOUDIN. 
 
 inexhaustible bottle, and was borne back to the stage still 
 full. 
 
 But it was not enough to amuse my spectators ; I must 
 also, in order to fulfil the object of my mission, startle 
 and even terrify them by the display of a supernatural 
 power. 
 
 My arrangements had all been made for this purpose, 
 and I had reserved for the end of my performances three 
 tricks, which must complete my reputation as a sorcerer. 
 
 Many of my readers will remember having seen at my 
 performances a small but solidly-built box, which, being 
 handed to the spectators, becomes heavy or light at ni}'- 
 order ; a child might raise it with ease, and yet the most 
 powerful man could not move it from its place. 
 
 I advanced, with my box in my hand, to the centre of 
 the " practicable," communicating from the stage to the 
 pit ; then, addressing the Arabs, 1 said to them : 
 
 " From what you have witnessed, you will attribute 
 a supernatural power to me, and you are right. I will 
 give you a new proof of my marvellous authority, by 
 showing that I can deprive the most powerful man of his 
 strength, and restore it at my will. Any one who thinks 
 himself strong enough to try the experiment may draw 
 near me." (I spoke slowly, in order to give the interpreter 
 time to translate niy words.) 
 
 An Arab of middle height, but well built and muscular, 
 like many of the Arabs are, came to my side with sufiBcient 
 assurance. 
 
 " Are you veiy strong ?" I said to him, measuring him 
 from head to foot." 
 
 "Oh, yes !" he replied, carelessly. 
 
 *' Are 3'ou sure you will always remain so ?" 
 
 " Quite sure." 
 
 *' You are mistaken, for in an instant I will rob you of 
 your strength, and you shall become as a little child." 
 
 The Arab smiled disdainfully, as a sign of his incre- 
 dulity. 
 
 *' Stay," I continued ; " lift up this box." 
 
 The Arab stooped, lifted up the box, and said to me, 
 coldlv, " Is that all ?" 
 
AN ELECTRIC SHOCK. 297 
 
 *'Wait !" I replied. 
 
 Then, with all possible gravity, I made an imposing 
 gesture, and solemnly pronounced the words : 
 
 " Behold ! you are weaker than a woman ; now, try to 
 lift the box." 
 
 The Hercules, quite cool as to my conjuration, seized 
 the box once again by the handle, and gave it a violent 
 tug, but this time the box resisted, and, spite of his most 
 vigorous attacks, would not budge an inch. 
 
 The Arab vainly expended on this unlucky box a strength 
 which would have raised an enormous weight, until at 
 length exhausted, panting, and red with anger, he stopped, 
 became thoughtful, and began to comprehend the influences 
 of magic. 
 
 He was on the point of withdrawing ; but that would be 
 allowing his weakness, and that he, hitherto respected for 
 his vigour, had become as a little child. Thi^ thought 
 rendered him almost mad. 
 
 Deriving fresh strength from the encouragements his 
 friends offered him by word and deed, he turned a glance 
 round them, which seemed to say, "You will see what a 
 son of the desert can do." 
 
 He bent once again over the box : his nervous hands 
 twined round the handle, and his legs, placed on either 
 side like two bronze columns, served as a support for the 
 final effort. 
 
 But, wonder of wonders ! this Hercules, a moment since 
 Fo strong and proud, now bows his head ; his arms, riveted 
 to the box, undergo a violent muscular contraction ; his legs 
 give way, and he falls on his knees with a yell of agony ! 
 
 An electric shock, produced by an inductive apparatus, 
 had been passed, on a signal from me, from the further end 
 of the stage into the handle of the box. Hence the con- 
 tortions of the poor Arab ! 
 
 It would have been cruelty to prolong this scene. 
 
 I gave a second signal, and the electric current was 
 immediately intercepted. My athlete, disengaged from his 
 terrible bondage, raised his hands over his head. 
 
 "Allah! Allah!" he exclaimed, full of terror; then, 
 wrapping himself up quickly in the folds of his burnous, 
 
298 MEMOIHS OF ROBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 as if to hide his disgrace, he rushed through the ranks of 
 the spectators and gained the front entrance. 
 
 With the exception of my stage-boxes and the privileged 
 spectators, who appeared to take great pleasure in this 
 experiment, my audience had become grave and silent, and 
 I heard the words " Shaitan !" " Djenoum !" passing in a 
 murmur round the circle of credulous men, who, while 
 gazing on me, seemed astonished that I possessed none 
 of the physical qualities attributed to the angel of dark- 
 ness. 
 
 I allowed my public a few moments to recover from the 
 emotion produced by my experiment and the flight of the 
 herculean Arab. 
 
 One of the means employed by the Marabouts to gain 
 influence in the eyes of the Arabs is by causing a belief in 
 their invulnerability. 
 
 One of them, for instance, ordered a gun to be loaded 
 and fired at him from a short distance, but in vain did the 
 flint produce a shower of sparks; the Marabout pro- 
 nounced some cabalistic words, and the gun did not ex- 
 plode. 
 
 The mystery was simple enough ; the gun did not go 
 oflf because the Marabout had skilfully stopped up the 
 vent. 
 
 Colonel de Neveu explained to me the importance of 
 discrediting such a miracle by opposing to it a sleight- 
 of-hand trick far superior to it, and I had the very article. 
 
 I informed the Arabs that I possessed a talisman render- 
 ing me invulnerable, and I defied the best marksman in 
 Algeria to hit me. 
 
 1 had hardly uttered the words, when an Arab, who had 
 attracted my notice by the attention he had paid to my 
 tricks, jumped over four rows of seats, and disdaining the 
 use of the "practicable," crossed the orchestra, upsetting 
 flutes, clarionets, and violins, escaladed the stage, while 
 burning himself at the footlights, and then said, in excel- 
 lent French, 
 
 " I will kill you !" 
 
 An immense burst of laughter greeted both the Arab's 
 
THE GUN TRICK. 299 
 
 picturesque ascent and his murderous intentions, while an 
 interpreter who stood near me told me 1 had to deal with 
 a Marabout. 
 
 " You wish to kill me !" I replied, imitating his accent 
 and ihe inflection of his voice. "Well, 1 reply, that 
 though you are a sorcerer, I am a still gi-eater one, and you 
 will not kill me." 
 
 I held a cavalry pistol in my hand, which I presented to 
 him. 
 
 " Here, take this weapon, and assure yourself it has 
 undergone no preparation." 
 
 The Arab breathed several times down the barrel, then 
 through the nipple, to assure himself there was a com- 
 munication between them, and after carefully examining 
 the pistol, said : 
 
 " The weapon is good, and I will kill you." 
 
 *' As you are determined, and for more certainty, put in 
 a double charge of powder, and a wad on the top." 
 
 " It is done." 
 
 " Now, here is a leaden ball ; mark it with your knife, 
 so as to be able to recognize it, and put it in the pistol, with 
 a second wad." 
 
 *' It is done." 
 
 " Now that you are quite sure your pistol is loaded, and 
 that it will explode, tell me, do you feel no remorse, no 
 scruple about killing me thus, although I authorize you to 
 do so ?" 
 
 " No, for I wish to kill you," the Arab repeated, coldly. 
 
 Without replying, I put an apple on the point of a knife, 
 and, standing a few yards from the Marabout, ordered him 
 to fire. 
 
 " Aim straight at the heart," I said to him. 
 
 My opponent aimed immediately, without the slightest 
 hesitation. 
 
 The pistol exploded, and the bullet lodged in the centre 
 of the apple. 
 
 I carried the talisman to the Marabout, who recognized 
 the ball he had marked. 
 
 I could not say that this trick produced greater stupe- 
 faction than the one preceding it : at any rate, my spec- 
 
300 MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 tators, palsied by surprise and teiTor, looked round in 
 fiilenco, seeming to think, " Where the deuce have we got 
 to here !" 
 
 A pleasant scene, however, soon unwrinkled many of 
 their faces. The Marabout, though stupefied by his 
 defeat, had not lost his wits ; so, profiting by the moment 
 when he returned me the pistol, he seized the apple, 
 thrust it into his waist-belt, and could not be induced to 
 return it, persuaded as he was that he possessed in it an 
 incomparable talisman. 
 
 For the last trick in my performance, I required the 
 assistance of an Arab. 
 
 At the request of several interpreters, a young Moor, 
 about twenty years of age, tall, well built, and richly 
 dressed, consented to come on the stage. Bolder and more 
 civilized, doubtlessly, than his comrades of the plains, he 
 walked fiimly up to me. 
 
 I drew him towards the table that was in the centre of 
 the stage, and pointed out to him and to the other spec- 
 tators that it was slightly built and perfectly isolated. 
 After which, without further preface, I told him to moimt 
 upon it, and covered him with an enormous cloth cone, 
 open at the top. 
 
 Then, drawing the cone and its contents on to a plank, 
 the ends of which were held by my servant and myself, 
 we walked to the foot-lights with our heavy burden, 
 and upset it. The Moor had disappeared — the cone was 
 perfectly empty ! 
 
 Immediately there began a spectacle which I shall never 
 forget. 
 
 The Arabs were so affected by this last trick, that, 
 impelled by an irresistible feeling of terror, they rose 
 in all parts of the house, and yielded to the influence 
 of a general panic. To tell the truth, the crowd of 
 fugitives was densest at the door of the dress circle, and 
 it could be seen, from the agilitj^ and confusion of these 
 high dignitaries, that they were the first to wish to leave 
 the house. 
 
 Vainly did one of them, the Caid of the Beni-Salah, more 
 
EXPLANATIONS. SOI 
 
 courageous than his colleagues, try to restrain them by his. 
 words : 
 
 " Stay ! stay ! we cannot thus lose one of our co-reli- 
 gionists. Surely we must know what has become of him, 
 or what has been done to him. Stay I stay !" 
 
 But the co-religionists only ran away the faster, and 
 soon the courageous caid, led away by their example, 
 followed them. 
 
 They little knew what awaited them at the door of the 
 theatre ; but they had scarce gone down the steps when 
 tlie}^ found themselves face to face with'the " resuscitated 
 Moor." 
 
 The first movement of terror overcome, they surrounded 
 ihe man. felt and cross-questioned him; but, annoyed by 
 these repeated questions, he had no better resource than to 
 escape at full speed. 
 
 The next evening the second performance took place^ 
 and produced nearly the same effect as the previous one. 
 
 The blow was struck: henceforth the interpreters and 
 all those who had dealings with Ihe Arabs received orders 
 to make them understand that my pretended miracles were 
 only the result of skill, inspired and guided by jaix_ jirfc 
 called preshdic/italwn, ih~no way connected with sorcery. 
 ' TtiB^trabs doubtlessly yielded to these arguments, for 
 henceforth I was on the most friendly terms with them. 
 Each time a chief saw me, he never failed to come up and 
 press my hand. And, even more, these men whom I had 
 so terrified, when they became my friends, gave me a pre- 
 cious testimony of their esteem — I may say, too, of their 
 admiration, for that is their own expression. 
 
 Three days had elapsed since my last performance, 
 when I received a despatch from the governor, ordering 
 me to be at the palace by twelve o'clock, military time. 
 
 Of course I kept the appointment, and the last strolve 
 of twelve was still striking by the clock of the neighbour- 
 ing mosque when I sent in my name at the palace. A staif 
 officer immediately came to me. 
 
 " Come with me, M. Kobert-Houdin," he said, with a 
 half-mysterious air. " I am ordered to conduct you." 
 
302 MEMOIBS OF ROBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 I followed my conductor, and, as the door of a mag- 
 nificent room was open at the end of a gallery we 
 crossed, I saw a strange sight. Some thirty of the most 
 important Arab chiefs were arranged in a circle, of 
 which I naturally formed the centre when I entered the 
 room. 
 
 " Salam aleikoum !" they said, in a grave and almost 
 solemn voice, as they laid their hands on their hearts. 
 
 I first returned this salutation by bowing in the French 
 fashion, and then by several hand-shakings, beginning 
 with those chiefs whose acquaintance I had already 
 formed. 
 
 At the head was the Bash-Aga Bou-Allem, the African 
 Eothschild, in whose tent I had drunk my coflee at the 
 Arab camp during the races. 
 
 Next came the Caid Assa, with a wooden leg, who had 
 also offered me pipes and coffee in the same encampment. 
 As this chief did not understand a word of French, niy 
 friend Boukandoura was enabled, during a visit we paid 
 him, to tell me the history of the wooden leg in his 
 presence. 
 
 *' Assa," my friend said, " having had his leg shattered 
 in an affair against the French, owed his escape to the 
 speed of his horse. Once in a place of safety, he himself 
 cut off his leg above the knee, and then, in his wild 
 energy, thrust the mutilated stump into a vessel full of 
 boiling pitch, in order to stop the hemorrhage." 
 
 Wishing to return the salutations I had received, I went 
 round the group, offering my hand to each in turn. But 
 my task was remarkably abridged, for the ranks thinned 
 at my approach, as many of the company had not the 
 courage to take the hand of a man they had seriously re- 
 garded as a sorcerer or the demon in person. 
 
 This incident, however, did not disturb the ceremony in 
 any way. After a laugh at the pusillanimity of the fugi- 
 tives, each reassumed that gravity which is the normal 
 condition of the Arab countenance. 
 
 Then the most aged chief in the assembly advanced 
 towards me, and unrolled an enormous MS. It was an 
 address, written in verse, a perfect masterpiece of native 
 
AN ADDRESS. 303 
 
 caligraphy, and adorned with graceful arabesques drawn 
 by hand. 
 
 The worthy Arab, who was at least seventy years of age, 
 then read, in a lond voice, the piece of Mussulman poetry, 
 which was perfectly nnintelligible to me, as I knew only 
 three words of Arabic. 
 
 When the reading was ended, the orator drew from his 
 belt the signet of his tribe, and solemnly placed it at the 
 bottom of the page. The principal Arab chiefs and digni- 
 taries followed his example, and when all the seals had 
 been affixed, my old friend took the paper, and after 
 assuring himself the imprints were quite dry, he rolled 
 it up and presented it to me, saying, in excellent French, 
 and in a tone that revealed his sincerity : 
 
 "To a merchant, gold is given ; to a warrior, arms are 
 offered ; to thee, Eobert-Houdin, we present a testimony 
 of our admiration, which thou canst hand down to thy 
 children." And, translating a verse he had just read in 
 Arabic, he added, " Pardon us for presenting thee with 
 such a trifle, but is it fitting to offer mother-o'-pearl to the 
 man who possesses the real jewel ?" 
 
 I avow very frankly that never in my life did I experience 
 such sweet emotion — never had my success penetrated so 
 fully to my heart ; and, moved more than I can express, I 
 turned to wipe away a tear of sympathy. 
 
 These details, as well as the following, certainly wound 
 To^j modesty a little, but I cannot make up my mind to pass 
 them over in silence ; hence, I must beg the reader to 
 accept them as a mere picture of manners. 
 
 I declare, too, that the thought never entered my mind 
 of having deserved such praise, and yet I cannot refrain 
 from feeling as much flattered as grateful for this homage, 
 and regarding it as the most precious souvenir of my 
 professional career. 
 
 This declaration made, I will furnish a translation of the 
 address, in the words used by the caligrapher himself: — 
 
 *' Homage off'ered to Eobert-Houdin, by the chiefs of the 
 Arab tribes, after his performances given at Algiers on the 
 28th and 29th of October, 1856. 
 
304 memoirs op robert-houdin. 
 
 ** Glory to God, 
 
 who teaches iis what we know not, and enables us to 
 express the treasures of the mind by the flowers of elo- 
 quence and the signs of writing. 
 
 " Generous- handed destiny has sent down from above, 
 in the midst of lightning and thunder, like a powerful and 
 fertilizing rain, the marvel of the moment and the age, him 
 who cultivates the surprising arts and marvellous sciences 
 — the 67(/-Kobert-Houdin. 
 
 •'Our century has seen no one comparable with him. 
 The splendour of his talent surpasses the most brilliant 
 productions of past ages. Our age is the more illustrious 
 because it has possessed him. 
 
 " He has known how to stir our hearts and astonish our 
 minds, by displaying to us the surprising facts of his 
 marvellous science. Our eyes were never before fascinated 
 by such prodigies. What he accomplishes cannot be de- 
 scribed. We owe him our gratitude for all the things hy 
 which he has delighted our eyes and our minds ; hence, 
 our friendship for him has sunk into our hearts like a 
 perfumed shower, and our bosoms preciously conceal it. 
 
 " We shall in vain attempt to raise our praises to the 
 height of his merit ; we must lower our brows before 
 him and pay him homage, so long as the benevolent 
 shower fertilizes the soil, so long as the moon illuminates 
 the night, so long as clouds come to temper the heat of the 
 8un. 
 
 *' Written by the slave of God, 
 
 " Ali -Ben-el-Hadji Moussa. 
 
 " Pardon us for presenting thee with," &c. &c. 
 
 Then follow the seals and signatures of the chiefs of the 
 tribes. 
 
 After the ceremony was over, and the Arabs had left us, 
 the marshal-governor, whom I had not seen since my per- 
 formances, being desirous to give me an idea of the effect 
 they had produced on the minds of the natives, quoted the 
 following incident : — 
 
CAUSE AND EFFECT. 305 
 
 A Kabyle chief, who had come to Algiers to make his 
 submission, was taken to my first performance. 
 
 The next day, at an early hour, he went to the palace, 
 and asked to speak with the governor. 
 
 " I have," he said to the marshal, "to ask your permis- 
 sion to return immediately to my tribe." 
 
 " You must be aware," the marshal replied, " that the 
 forms are not yet filled up, and the papers will not be in 
 order for three days ; you will, therefore, remain for that 
 period." 
 
 " Allah is great," the Arab said, " and if it pleaseth 
 Him I shall go away before ; you will not be able to stop 
 me." 
 
 " You will not go, I feel certain, if I forbid it. But tell 
 me, why are you in such a hurry to leave ?" 
 
 " After what I saw yesterday I don't wish to stay in 
 Algiers ; a misfortune would happen to me." 
 
 " Did you regard the miracles as real ?" 
 
 The Ivabyle surveyed the marshal with an air of 
 «,stonishment, and, without replying directly to the ques- 
 tion addressed him, said : 
 
 " Instead of killing your soldiers in conquering the 
 Kabyles, send your IVench Marabout to the most rebel 
 tribes, and before a fortnight he will bring them all to 
 you." 
 
 The Kabyle did not leave, for the interpreters managed 
 to remove his fears ; still he was one of those who kept 
 furthest aloof from me during the ceremony I have de- 
 scribed. 
 
 Another Arab also said, on leaving one of my perform- 
 ances : 
 
 " Our Marabouts must now do very great miracles to 
 .•astonish us." 
 
 These statements from the governor's own lips were very 
 agreeable to me, for up to that moment I had felt rather 
 uneasy ; and although I was certain I had produced a 
 startling impression by my performances, I was enchanted 
 at learning that the object of my mission had been carried 
 out according to the wishes of government. In addition, 
 before I started for France, the marshal was kind enough 
 
 X 
 
306 MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 to assure me once again that my performances in Algeria 
 had produced the ^happiest effect on the minds of the 
 natives. 
 
 Although my performances were ended, I was in no 
 hurry to return to France. I was curious, in my turn, to 
 witness a conjuring performance of the Marabouts, or other 
 native jugglers. 1 had also promised several Arab chiefs 
 to visit them in their douars, and I wished to enjoy this 
 double pleasure. 
 
 There are few Frenchmen who, after a short stay in 
 Algeria, have not heard of the Aissaoua and their marvels. 
 The stories I had been told of the experiments performed 
 by the followers of Sid-Aissa had inspired me with the 
 liveliest desire to see them, and I was persuaded that all 
 their miracles were only more or less ingenious tricks, 
 which I should be able to detect. 
 
 As M. le Colonel Neveu had promised me the opportunity 
 of seeing them, he kept his word. 
 
 On a day chosen by the Mokaddem, the usual president 
 of this sort of meeting, we went, accompanied by several 
 staff officers and their wives, to an Arab house, and pro- 
 ceeded through a low archway into the inner court, where 
 the ceremony was to take place. Lights artistically fixed 
 on the walls, and carpets spread on the pavement, awaited 
 the arrival of the Brothers, while a cushion was reserved 
 for the Mokaddem. 
 
 We all took our seats where we should not disturb the 
 performance, and our ladies went up to a gallery on the 
 first floor, and thus represented our dress boxes. 
 
 But I will let Colonel Neveu himself describe this scene, 
 by copying verbatim from his interesting work " The 
 ^Religious Orders among the Mussulmans of Algeria." 
 
 *' The Aissaoua entered, formed a circle in the court- 
 yard, and soon began their chants. These were at first 
 slow and solemn chants, that lasted a long time; then 
 came the praises of Sidi-Muhammad-Ben-Aissa, founder of 
 the order ; after which the Brethren and the Mokaddem, 
 taking up cymbals and tambourines, gradually increased 
 the speed of the chanting. 
 
 "After about two hours the songs had become wild 
 
PRETENDED MIRACLES. 307 
 
 cries, and the gestures of the Brethren had followed the 
 same impulse. Suddenly some of them rose and formed a 
 line, dancing, and pronouncing as gutturally as they could, 
 and with all the vigour of their energetic lungs, the sacred 
 name of Allah. This word, issuing from the mouths of 
 the Aissaoua, seemed rather a savage growl than an invoca- 
 tion addressed to the Supreme Being. Soon the noise 
 increased, the most extravagant gestures began, while 
 turbans fell off and exposed their shorn heads, which look 
 like those of vultures ; the long folds of their red sashes 
 became unfastened, embarrassing their movements and 
 increasing the disorder. 
 
 " Then the Aissaoua moved about on their hands and 
 knees, imitating the movements of wild animals. They 
 seemed to be acting under the influence of same muscular 
 force, and they forgot they were men. 
 
 " When the excitement had reached its height, and the 
 perspiration was running down their bodies, the Aissaoua 
 began their juggling. They called the Mokaddem their 
 father, and asked him for food ; he gave to some pieces of 
 glasses, which they champed between their teeth; he 
 placed nails in the mouths of others, but, instead of 
 swallowing them, they carefully hid their heads in the 
 folds of the Mokaddem's burnous, in order not to let the 
 audience see them remove them. Some devoured thorns 
 and thistles; others passed their tongues over a red-hot 
 iron and took them in their hands without burning them- 
 selves. One man struck his left arm with his right hand : 
 the flesh appeared to open, and the blood poured forth 
 abundantly ; then he passed his hand over his arm, the 
 wound closed, and the blood disappeared. Another leaped 
 on to the edge of a sabre held by two men, and did not cut 
 his feet ; while others produced from small leathern sacks 
 scorpions and serpents, which they boldly placed in their 
 mouths." 
 
 I had concealed myself behind a pillar, whence I could 
 survey everything without being noticed. I insisted on 
 not being the dupe of these mysterious tricks : hence 1 
 paid the closest attention. 
 
 Both through the remarks I made on the scene of action. 
 
 X 2 
 
308 MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 and the ultenor researches I undertook, I am now in a 
 position to give a satisfactory explanation of the miracles 
 of the Aissaona. But, not to interrupt my narrative, I will 
 refer the reader who is anxious for these details to the end 
 of this volume, and the special chapter I have christened 
 A Course of Miracles. 
 
 I believe myself the more competent to supply these 
 explanations, as some of the tricks belong to conjuring 
 proper, and others are based on phenomena drawn from 
 the physical sciences. , 
 
 CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 Excursion in the Interior of Africa — The Abode of a Bash-Aga— A 
 comical Repast — A Soiree of Arab Dignitaries— A Maraliout mys- 
 tified — Tent-life in Algeria — I return to France — A terrible Storm — 
 Conclusion. 
 
 Once possessed of the secret of the juggling performed by 
 the Aissaoua, I was able to start for the interior of Africa. 
 I therefore set out, provided with letters from Colonel do 
 Neveu, to several heads of the Arab department, his 
 subordinates, and I took with me Mme. Robert- Houdin, 
 who was quite delighted at the thought of making this 
 excursion. 
 
 We were going to visit the Arab beneath his tent or in 
 his house ; eat his *' couscoussou," which we only knew by 
 name ; study for ourselves the domestic manners and 
 curftoms of Africa : this was certainly enough to inflame 
 our imagination. So much was this the case, that I hardly 
 ever thought that the month in which we should re-embark 
 for France would be the one in which the Mediterranean is 
 so stormy. 
 
 Among the Arabs who had invited me to visit them, 
 Bou-Allem-Ben-Sherifa, Bash-Aga of the D'jendel, had 
 pressed me so strongly that I determined on commencing 
 my round of visits with him. 
 
 Our journey from Algiers to Medeah was most prosaic, 
 for a diligence conveyed us there in two days. 
 
MEDf,AH. 300 
 
 Apart from the interest inspired in us by the peculiar 
 vegetation of Algeria, as well as the famous peak of the 
 Mouzaia, which we passed at a gallop, the incidents of the 
 journey were the same as on any French high road. The 
 hotels were kept by Frenchmen, and you dined at the 
 table -d'hote on the same fare, at the same price, and with 
 the same attendance. This bagman's existence was not 
 what we had anticipated on leaving Algiers. Hence, we 
 were delighted to get out at Medeah, as the diligence did 
 not follow the same road as ourselves beyond this point. 
 
 Captain Eitter, head of the Arab office at Medeah, to 
 whom I went, had seen my performances at Algiers : hence, 
 I had no occasion to hand him the letter of recommenda- 
 tion addressed to him by M. de Neveu. He received me 
 with great affability, and Mme. Kitter joined her entreaties 
 to her husband's that we should visit the town. I indeed 
 regretted being obliged to leave such agreeable persons the 
 next morning ; but I was obliged to hurry my tour over 
 before the autumnal rains set in, which render the roads 
 impracticable, and often, indeed, very dangerous. 
 
 The captain acceded to my wishes ; he lent us two 
 horses from his stable, and |gave us as a guide to Bou- 
 Allem's a caid who spoke French excellently. 
 
 This Arab had been caught when quite a youth in a hut 
 which Abd-ul-Khadr had been forced to abandon after one 
 of his numerous defeats. The government sent the lad to 
 the Louis-le -Grand College, where he got on excellently in 
 his studies. But, constantly pursued by the remembrance 
 of his African sky, and the national " couscoussou," our 
 bachelor of arts asked the favour of being sent back to 
 Algeria. Owing to his education he was made ca'id of a 
 small tribe, whose name I have forgotten, but which lay on 
 the route we were going to take. 
 
 My guide — who I will call Muhammad, because I have 
 forgotten his name also (for Arab names are difficult to 
 remember by those who have not lived some time in 
 Algeria) — Muhammad, then, was accompanied by four 
 Arabs of his tribe : two of them were to carry our baggage 
 and the other two wait upon us. All were mounted, and, 
 proceeded before us. 
 
310 MEMOIRS OF ROBERT- HOUDIX. 
 
 We started at eight in the morning, as our first stage 
 was not to be long, for Muhammad assured me that, if it 
 pleased God (a formula a true believer never omits in 
 speaking of the future), we should arrive at his house in 
 time for breakfast. In fact, about three hours after we had 
 set out, our little caravan reached Muhammad's modest 
 douar^ and we dismounted in fiont of a villa, entirely com- 
 posed of branches, of which the roof was hardly of man's 
 height. This was the caid's reception-room. 
 
 The door was opened, and our guide showed us the way 
 by walking in first. Only one piece of furniture orna- 
 mented the interior ; it was a small wooden stool, which 
 my wife converted into a seat. Muhammad and I seated 
 ourselves on a carpet, which an Arab had spread at our 
 feet, and breakfast was soon served up. Muhammad, who, 
 I fancy, wished to gain our pardon for a grave crime he 
 was about to commit, treated us sumptuously, and almost 
 in the French style. A rich soup, roast fowls, various 
 ragouts, which I cannot describe, as my culinary studies 
 have been very limited, and pastry, which Felix himself 
 would not have disowned, were placed before us in turn. 
 More than that, my wife and I had been handed an iron 
 knif^, fork, and spoon — an unheard of thing at an Arab's. 
 
 The meal had been brought from an adjacent gourhi^ 
 where the caid's mother resided. This lady had lived in 
 Algiers for a long time, where she had acquired the skill of 
 which she had just offered us a specimen. 
 
 As for Muhammad, he had resumed the fashions of his 
 ancestors, with the Mussulman costume, and lived on dates 
 and " couscoussou," save when he had any guests, which 
 was extremely rare. 
 
 Our breakfast over, the host advised to set out again, if 
 we wished to reach Bou-Allem's before nightfall ; and we 
 followed his advice. 
 
 From Medeah to Muhammad's douar we had followed a 
 tolerable road, but on leaving his house we entered on a 
 barren and desert country, where we saw no other signs of 
 a road than those left hy ourselves. The sun poured its 
 most torrid beams upon our heads, and we found no shade 
 along our route to protect us from it. Frequently, too, our 
 
A DESERTER. 311 
 
 progress became very laborious, for we came to ravines, 
 into which we had to descend at the risk of our horses' 
 knees and our own necks. To restore our patience, our 
 guide told us we should soon reach more even ground, and 
 we continued our journey. 
 
 About two hours after leaving our first halt, Muhammad 
 quitted us at full gallop, saying he would soon return, and 
 ■disappeared behind a mound. 
 
 We never saw our caid again. 
 
 I learned, afterwards, that in his jealousy of Bou-Allem's 
 w^ealth, he preferred incurring a punishment sooner than 
 pay a visit to his rival. 
 
 This flight rendered my wife and myself very uncomfort- 
 able, and we exchanged our ideas on the subject with no 
 fear of being understood by our guides. We were alarmed 
 by the bad example given by Muhammad. Suppose the 
 four Arabs were to imitate their chief, and also abandon 
 us ! What would become of us in a country where, even 
 if we were to meet anybody, we could not make him under- 
 stand our wishes ? 
 
 But we escaped with the fear. Our worthy guides 
 remained faithful to us, and were even very polite and 
 attentive during the journey. Besides, as Muhammad had 
 told us, we soon reached a road leading us straight to the 
 abode of Bou-Allem. 
 
 Compared with the caid's house, the bash-aga's might be 
 considered a princely residence, less, however, through the 
 architectural beauty of the buildings than through their 
 extent. As, in all Arab houses, only walls could be seen 
 from without ; all the windows looked on court-yards or 
 gardens. 
 
 Bou-Allem and his son, warned of our arrival, came to 
 meet us, and paid us in Arabic compliments I did not 
 understand, but which I supposed to be the usual salam- 
 alecks, that is to say : 
 
 " Be ye welcome, oh ye invited of Deity !" 
 
 Such, however, was my confidence, that, whatever might 
 have been said to me, I should have accepted it as a 
 oompliment. 
 
 We dismounted, and sat down upon a stone bench, where 
 
312 JIEMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOUDIX. 
 
 coffee was soon served up to us. In Algeria people drink 
 coffee and smoke the whole day long. It is true that this 
 beverage is not made so strong as in France, and the cups 
 are very small. 
 
 Bou-Allem, after lighting a pipe, handed it to me : it 
 was an honour he did irie to let mo smoke after him, and I 
 could not decline it, though I might have preferred it to be 
 just the " other way about." 
 
 As I have already stated, I only knew three or four 
 words of Arabic, and with such a poor vocabulary it was 
 difficult to talk with my hosts. Still, they evidenced great 
 joy at my arrival, for every moment they renewed theii* 
 protestations, while laying their hands on their hearts. I 
 replied by similar signs, and hence had not to draw on my 
 imagination to keep up the conversation. 
 
 Later, however, urged by an appetite whose prompt 
 satisfaction I did not calculate on, I ventured on a new 
 pantomime. Laying my hand on the pit of my stomach,, 
 and assuming a suffering air, I tried to make Bou-Allem 
 comprehend that we required more substantial food than 
 civil compliments. The intelligent Arab understood me, 
 and gave orders f(3r the meal to be hastened on. 
 
 In the mean while, and to keep us quiet, he offered, by 
 gestures, to show us his apartments. 
 
 We ascended a small stone staircase, and, on arriving at 
 the first floor, our guide opened a door, which offered this 
 peculiarity, that, to pass through it, you were obliged to 
 lower your head and lift your foot simultaneously. In 
 other words, this door was so low, that a man of ordinary 
 height could not pass through it without stooping, and, as- 
 the floor was raised, you were obliged to step up on it. 
 
 This chamber was the bash-aga's reception-room ; the 
 walls were covered with red arabesques relieved with gold,, 
 and the ground strown with magnificent Turkey caipets. 
 Four divans, covered with rich silk stuffs, completed the 
 entire furniture, with a small mahogany table, on which 
 were spread pipes, porcelain cofiee-cups, and other, objects 
 especially used by IVIussulmans. Among them, Bou-Allem 
 took up a flask filled with rose-water, and poured it on our 
 hands. The peifilme was delicate : unfortunately, our host 
 
PUMPKIN SOUP. 31I:> 
 
 wished to do things grandly, and in order to show the 
 esteem he held us in, employed the rest of the bottle in 
 literally sprinkling ns from head to foot. 
 
 We visited two other large rooms, more simply decorated 
 than the first, and in one of them was an enormous divan. 
 Bou-Allem made us comprehend that was where he slept. 
 
 These details would have been very interesting at any 
 other moment, biTt we were dying of hunger, and, ac- 
 cording to the proverb, " a starving belly has neither 
 eyes nor ears." I was just going to recommence my famous 
 pantomime, when, in passing through a small room, in 
 which the only furniture was a carpet, our cicerone opened 
 his mouth, pointed with his finger that something was 
 going to be placed in it, and thus made us understand we 
 were in the dining-room. I laid my hand on my heart to 
 express all the pleasure I experienced. 
 
 By Bou-Allem's invitation we sat down on the carpet, 
 round a large waiter put down in place of a table. 
 
 Once seated, two Arabs came in to wait on us. 
 
 In France, servants wait with their heads uncovered ; 
 in Algeria, they keep on their head -covering ; but, in 
 return, as a mark of respect, they leave their shoes at the 
 door, and serve barefooted. Between our servants and 
 those of the Arabs the only difference is from head to foot. 
 
 We were the only guests seated with Bou-Allem, for the 
 son had not the honour of dining with his father, who 
 always ate alone. 
 
 A species of salad-bowl, filled with something like 
 pumpkin-soup, was brought in, and I am very fond of 
 that dish. 
 
 " What a fortunate thing," I said to my wife, " Bou- 
 Allem has guessed my taste ; how I will do honour to his 
 cook." 
 
 My host, doubtlessly, understood the meaning of my 
 remark, for, after offering us each a clumsy wooden spoon, 
 he begged us to follow his example, and plunged his 
 weapon in up to the wrist. We imitated him. 
 
 I soon took out an enormous spoonful, which I liastily 
 lifted to my mouth; but I had scarce tasted it ere I 
 exclaimed, with a horrible grimace : 
 
314 MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 " Pouah ! what can that be ? My mouth is on fire." 
 
 My wife withdrew the spoonful she had raised to her 
 lips, but either her appetite or her curiosity induced her to 
 taste it. She did so, but soon joined me in coughing. It 
 was a regular pepper-pot. 
 
 While apparently vexed at this contretemps, our host 
 swallowed enormous spoonfuls of the soup, and each time 
 he stretched out his arm with an air of beatitude, intended 
 to convey to us *' And yet how good it is." 
 
 The soup-tureen was taken away almost empty. 
 
 ** Bueno ! bueno !" Bou-Allem exclaimed, pointing to a 
 dish just placed before us. 
 
 Bueno is Spanish, and the worthy bash-aga, knowing 
 two or three words of that language, was not vexed to 
 display his learning to us. 
 
 This famous dish was a species of ragoM, bearing some 
 afifinity to haricot mutton. When I lived at Belleville, this 
 was the masterpiece of Mme. Auguste, and I always gave 
 it a very good reception. Hence, in remembrance of my 
 good old cook, I was about to fall on the ragoUt ; but I 
 looked around in vain for a fork, a knife, or even the 
 wooden spoon handed us for the soup. 
 
 Bou-Allem released me from the dilemma ; he showed 
 me, by himself plunging his fingers into the dish, that 
 a fork was a very useless instrument. 
 
 As hunger tormented us, we overcame our repugnance, 
 and my wife, to encourage me, delicately fished up a small 
 piece of mutton. The sauce was very highly spiced, but 
 still, by eating very little meat and a great deal of bread, 
 we were enabled to render the poison innocuous. 
 
 That I might be agreeable to my host, I unfortunately 
 repeated the Spanish words he had taught me. This com- 
 pliment, which he believed sincere, caused him extreme 
 pleasure, and he drew out from the dish a bone with meat 
 hanging to it, and after tearing off some pieces with his 
 nails, offered them politely to my wife. 
 
 I wondered how Madame Houdin would get lid of this 
 singular present ; but she did so much more cleverly than 
 I expected. Bou-Allem having turned his head to give an 
 order, the piece of meat was restored to the dish with 
 
OUR VISITORS. 315 
 
 astounding craft, and we were mncli inclined to laugh 
 when our host, unsuspectingly, took this very piece of 
 mutton for his own gratification. 
 
 We welcomed with great satisfaction a roast fowl served 
 after the ragout ; I took on myself to carve it, or, in other 
 words, to tear it asunder with my fingers, and I did so 
 most delicately. We found it so much to our taste that 
 not a particle was left. 
 
 Then came other dishes, which we tasted with due care, 
 among them being the famous " couscoussou," which I 
 found detestable, and the meal terminated with sweet- 
 meats. 
 
 Our hands were in a deplorable condition, and an Arab 
 brought us each a basin and soap to wash them. 
 
 Bou-Allem, after performing the operation, and washing 
 his beard with the greatest care, took a handful of soap- 
 suds, and rinsed his mouth. This was the only liquor 
 served at table. 
 
 After dinner we proceeded to another room, and, on the 
 road, were joined by a young Arab whom Bou-Allem had 
 sent for. This man had been for a long time servant at 
 Algiers, and spoke French excellently; hence he would 
 serve as our interpreter. 
 
 We entered a small room very elegantly decorated, in 
 which were two divans. 
 
 " This," our host said, "is the room reserved for guests 
 of distinction ; you can go to bed when you like, but if 
 you are not tired, I would ask your leave to present to j^ou 
 several chief men of my tribe, who, having heard of you, 
 wish to see you." 
 
 " Let them come in," I said, after consulting Madame 
 Houdin, " we will receive them with pleasure." 
 
 The interpreter went out, and soon brought in a dozen 
 old men, among whom were a Marabout and several talebs, 
 whom the bash-aga appeared to hold in great deference. 
 
 They sat down in a circle on carpets, and kept up a very 
 lively conversation about my performances at Algiers. 
 This learned society discussed the probability of the 
 marvels related by the chief of the tribe, who took great 
 pleasure in depicting his impressions and those of his 
 
316 MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 co-1'eligionists at the sight of the miracles I had per- 
 formed. 
 
 Each lent an attentive ear to these stories, and re- 
 garded me with a species of veneration ; the Mara- 
 bout alone displayed a degree of scepticism, and asserted 
 that the spectators had been duped by what he called a 
 vision. 
 
 Jealous of my reputation as a French sorcerer, I thought 
 I must perform before the unbeliever a few tricks as a 
 specimen of my late performance. I liad the pleasure of 
 astounding my audience, but the Marabout continued to 
 oifer me a systematic opposition, by which his neighbours 
 were visibly annoyed; the poor fellow did not suspect, 
 though, what I had in store for him. 
 
 My antagonist wore in his sash a watch, the chain of 
 which hung outside. 
 
 I believe I have already mentioned a certain talent I 
 possess of filching a watch, a pin, a pocket-book, &c., 
 with a skill by which several of my friends have been 
 victimised. 
 
 I was fortunately bom with an honest and upright 
 heai"t, or this peculiar talent might have led me too far. 
 \Vhen I felt inclined for a joke of this nature, I turned 
 it to profit in a conjuring trick, or waited till my friend 
 took leave of me, and then recalled him : " Stay," I would 
 say, handing him the stolen article, " let this serve as a 
 lesson to put you on your guard against persons less honest 
 than myself." 
 
 But to return to our Marabout. I had stolen his watch 
 as I passed near him, and slipped into its place a five-franc 
 piece. 
 
 To prevent his detecting it, and while waiting till I 
 could profit by my larceny, I improvised a trick. After 
 juggling away Bou-Allem's rosary, I made it pass into one 
 of the numerous slippers left at the door by the guests ; 
 this shoe was next found to be full of coins, and to end 
 this little scene comically, I made five-franc pieces come 
 out of the noses of the spectators. They took such pleasure 
 in this trick that I fancied I should never terminate it. 
 ''Douros! dourosT they shouted, as they twitched their 
 
I 
 
 A MARABOUT PUZZLED. 317 
 
 noses. I willingly acceded to their request, and the douros 
 issued at command. 
 
 The delight was so great that several Arabs rolled on 
 the ground; this coarsely expressed joy on the part of 
 Muhammadans was worth frenzied applause to me. 
 
 I pretended to keep aloof from the Marabout, who, as I 
 expected, remained serious and impassive. 
 
 When calm was restored, my rival began speaking 
 hurriedly to his neighbours, as if striving to dispel their 
 illusion, and, not succeeding, he addressed me through the 
 interpreter : 
 
 " You will not deceive me in that way," he said, with a 
 crafty look. 
 
 " Why so?" 
 
 " Because I don't believe in your power." 
 
 " Ah, indeed! Well, then, if you do not believe in my 
 power, I will compel you to believe in my skill." 
 
 " Neither in one nor the other." 
 
 I was at this moment the whole length of the room from 
 the Marabout. 
 
 " Stay," I said to him ; " you see this five-franc piece ?" 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 " Close your hand firmly, for the piece will go into it 
 in spite of yourself" 
 
 " I am ready," the Arab said, in an incredulous voice, 
 as he held out his tightly closed fist. 
 
 I took the piece at the end of my fingers, so that the 
 assembly might all see it, then, feigning to throw it at the 
 Marabout, it disappeared at the word " Pass !" 
 
 My man opened his hand, and, finding nothing in it, 
 shrugged his shoulders, as if to say, " You see, I told 
 you so." 
 
 I was well aware the piece was not there, but it was 
 important to draw the Marabout's attention momentaril}' 
 from his sash, and for this purpose I employed the feint. 
 
 " That does not surprise me," I replied, "for I threw 
 the piece with such strength that it w^ent right through 
 your hand, and has fallen into your sash. Being afraid 
 I might break your watch by the blow, I called it to me : 
 here it is !" And I showed him the watch in my hand. 
 
? 
 
 318 MEMOIRS OF EOBEET-HOUDIN. 
 
 The IMarabout quickly put his hand in his waistbelt, to 
 assure himself of the truth, and was quite stupefied at find- 
 ing the five-franc piece. 
 
 The spectators were astounded. Some among them 
 began telling their beads with a vivacity evidencing a 
 certain agitation of mind; but the Marabout frowned 
 without saying a word, and I saw he was spelling over 
 some evil design. 
 
 " I now believe in your supernatural power," he said ; 
 " you are a real sorcerer ; hence, I hope you will not fear 
 to repeat here a trick you performed in your theatre ;" and 
 ofiering me two pistols he held concealed beneath his 
 burnous, he added, " Come, choose one of these pistols ; 
 we will load it, and I will fire at you. You have nothing 
 to fear, as you can ward off all blows." 
 
 I confess I was for a moment staggered ; I sought a 
 subterfuge, and found none. All eyes were fixed upon me, 
 and a reply was anxiously awaited. 
 
 The Marabout was triumphant. 
 
 Bou-Allem, being aware that my tricks were only the 
 result of skill, was angry that his guest should be so 
 pestered, hence he began reproaching the Marabout. I 
 stopped him, however, for an idea had occurred to me 
 which would save me from my dilemma, at least tem- 
 porarily ; then, addressing my adversary : 
 
 " You are aware," I said, with assurance, " that I 
 require a talisman in order to be invulnerable, and, un- 
 fortunately, I have left mine at Algiers." 
 
 The Marabout began laughing with an incredulous air. 
 
 " Still," I continued, " I can, by remaining six hours at 
 prayers, do without the talisman, and defy your weapon. 
 To-morrow moraing, at eight o'clock, I will allow you to 
 fire at me in the presence of these Arabs, who were wit- 
 nesses of your challenge." 
 
 Bou-Allem, astonished at such a promise, asked me once 
 again if this offer were serious, and if he should invite the 
 company for the appointed hour. On my affirmative, they 
 agreed to meet before the stone bench I have already 
 alluded to. 
 
 I did not spend my night at prayers, as may be sup- 
 
THE GUN TRICK. 319 
 
 posed, but I employed about two hours in insuring my 
 invulnerability; then, satisfied with the result, I slept 
 soundly, for I was terribly tired. 
 
 By eight the next morning we had breakfasted, our 
 horses were saddled, and our escort was awaiting the 
 signal for our departure, which would take^place after the 
 famous experiment. 
 
 None of the guests were absent, and indeed, a great 
 number of Arabs came in to swell the crowd. 
 
 The pistols were handed me ; I called attention to the 
 fact that the vents were clear, and the Marabout put in a 
 fair charge of powder and drove the wad home. Among 
 the bullets produced, I chose one which I openly put in 
 the pistol, and which was then also covered with paper. 
 
 The Arab watched all these movements, for his honour 
 was at stake. 
 
 We went through the same process with the second 
 pistol, and the solemn moment arrived. 
 
 Solemn, indeed, it seemed to everybody — to the spectators 
 who were uncertain of the issue, to Madame Houdin, who 
 had in vain besought me to give up this trick, for she 
 feared the result — and solemn also to me, for as my new 
 trick did not depend on any of the arrangements. made at 
 Algiers, I feared an error, an act of treachery — I knew not 
 what. 
 
 Still I posted myself at fifteen paces from the sheik, 
 without evincing the slightest emotion. 
 
 The Marabout immediately seized one of the pistols, and, 
 on my giving the signal, took a deliberate aim at me. 
 
 The pistol went off, and the ball appeared between my 
 teeth. 
 
 More angry than ever, my rival tried to seize the other 
 pistol, but I succeeded in reaching it before him. 
 
 " You could not injure me," I said to him, " but you 
 shall now see that my aim is more dangerous than yours. 
 Look at that wall." 
 
 I pulled the trigger, and on the newly whitewashed wall 
 appeared a large patch of blood, exactly at the spot where 
 I had aimed. 
 
 The Marabout went up to it, dipped his finger in the 
 
;)20 MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 blood, and, raising it to his month, convinced himself of 
 the reality. When he acquired this certainty, his arms 
 fell, and his head was bowed on his chest, as if he were 
 annihilated. 
 
 It was evident that for the moment he doubted every- 
 thing, even the Prophet. 
 
 The spectators raised their eyes to heaven, muttered 
 prayers, and regarded me with a species of terror. 
 
 Tliis scene was a triumphant termination to my per- 
 formance. I therefore retired, leaving the audience under 
 the impression I had produced. We took leave of Bou- 
 Allem and his son, and set off at a gallop. 
 
 The trick I have just described, though so curious, is 
 easily prepared. I will give a description of it, while 
 explaining the trouble it took me. 
 
 As soon as I was alone in my room, I took out of my 
 pistol-case — without which I never travel — a bullet-mould. 
 
 I took a card, bent up the four edges, and thus made 
 a sort of trough, in which I placed a piece of wax taken 
 from one of the candles. When it was melted, I mixed 
 with it a little lamp-black I had obtained by putting tlir 
 blade of a knife over the candle, and then ran this com- 
 position in the bullet-mould. 
 
 Had I allowed the liquid to get quite cold, the ball 
 would have been full and solid ; but in about ten seconds 
 I turned the mould over, and the portion of the wax not 
 yet set ran out, leaving a hollow ball in the mould. This 
 operation is the same as that used in making tapers, the 
 thickness of the outside depending on the time the liquid 
 has been left in the mould. 
 
 I wanted a second ball, which I made rather more solid 
 than the other ; and this I filled with blood, and covered 
 the orifice with a limip of wax. An Irishman had once 
 taught me the way to draw blood from the thumb, without 
 feeling any pain, and I employed it on this occasion to fill 
 my bullet. 
 
 Bullets thus prepared bear an extraordinary resemblance 
 to lead, and are easily mistaken for that metal when seen 
 a short distance off. 
 
AN EVENING TARTY. 321 
 
 With, this explanation the trick will be easily under- 
 stood. After showing the leaden bullet to the spectators, 
 I changed it for my hollow ball, and openly put the latter 
 into the pistol. By pressing the wad tightly down, the 
 wax broke into small pieces, and could not touch me at the 
 distance I stood. 
 
 At the moment the pistol was fired, I opened m.y mouth 
 to display the lead bullet I held between my teeth, 
 while the other pistol contained the bullet filled with 
 blood, which, bursting against the wall, left its imprint, 
 though the wax had flown to atoms. 
 
 After a pleasant journey, we reached Milianah at four 
 in the afternoon. The head of the Arab office. Captain 
 Bourseret, received us most kindly, and begged us to 
 regard his house as our own during the whole time of our 
 stay. 
 
 M. Bourseret resided with his mother, and that excellent 
 lady showed Madame Eobert-Houdin all those delicate 
 attentions which only a friend of long standing could have 
 claimed. 
 
 Our trip across the D'jendel had fatigued us, hence we 
 passed the greater portion of the next day in resting our- 
 selves. 
 
 At night, the captain gave a grand dinner, to which the- 
 general commanding, the lieutenant-colonel, and some 
 notabilities of the town were invited. After the repast, I 
 thought I could not better repay my polite reception than 
 by giving a small performance, in which I displayed all 
 my skill. As I had told M. Bourseret during the daj of 
 my intention, he had invited a large evening party ; and I 
 must suppose my experiments pleased, if I may judge by 
 the greeting they received. Besides, my public were so 
 favourably disposed towards me, that they often applauded 
 on trust, as they could not all see very well. 
 
 Milianah was the end of my journey. I could only re- 
 main three days, if I wished to return to Algiers in time 
 for the steamer that would convey us to France. 
 
 M. Bourseret arranged an excursion for the second day 
 of my stay at his house to visit the Beni-Menasseh, 
 
?^ 
 
 322 MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 nomadic tribo, at that time encamped a few leagues from 
 Milianah. 
 
 At six ia the morning we took horse, accompanied by 
 some of the captain's friends, and went down the mountain 
 on which the town is built. 
 
 We were escorted by a dozen Arabs attached to the office, 
 all clothed in red mantles, and armed with guns. 
 
 Orders had certainly been given beforehand, for, on 
 reaching the plain, at the first goum we passed through, 
 ten Arabs mounted their horses and formed our escort. A 
 little further on another troop joined the first, and our 
 band, acting like a rolling snow-ball, ended by attaining 
 considerable proportions. It was composed of about two 
 hundred Arabs. 
 
 After two hours' march, we quitted the high road, and 
 entered a plain that extended an immense distance in front 
 of us. 
 
 Suddenly, the Arabs who accompanied us, probably in 
 obedience to a signal from the chief, started oif at a gallop, 
 and proceeded five or six hundred yards ahead. There the 
 troop divided, formed four deep, and the men of the first 
 file rushed upon us, uttering frenzied cries, as they held 
 their guns to their shoulders and prepared to fire. 
 
 Our little band happened to be in front at this moment. 
 The Arabs rushed upon us with the velocity of a steam- 
 engine, and in a few seconds we should have suffered a 
 collision that must have crushed us all. 
 
 A sound of firing was heard : all the horsemen had dis- 
 charged their guns with admirable precision over our 
 heads. Their horses plunged, turned on their hind legs, 
 a.nd started off at full speed to join the troop. 
 
 The Arab might have been taken for a perfect centaur, 
 when we saw him, while riding at this frantic speed, load 
 his gun, and perform with it all the tricks peculiar to the 
 drum- major. 
 
 The first file of horsemen had scarce retired when the 
 second came forward, and went through a similar perform- 
 ance, which was repeated at least twenty times. Our cap- 
 tain had arranged for us the surprise of a fantasia. 
 
 At the noise of the firing some of our horses had started, 
 
STRAIfGE BANNERS. 323 
 
 iDut, the first moment of surprise passed, tliey remained per- 
 fectly quiet. My wife's horse was an animal of approved 
 docility, hence it was far less aifected than its rider ; still, 
 every one did my wife the justice of stating that, after the 
 first shock was over, she remained as calm as the boldest 
 warrior among us. 
 
 The fantasia terminated, the Arabs took their place in 
 the escort again, and within an hour we reached the tents 
 of the Beni-Menasseh. 
 
 The Aga Ben-Amara was awaiting us. On our arrival 
 he advanced towards us, and humbly kissed the captain's 
 hand, while other men of his tribe, in order to do honour to 
 our visit, discharged their guns almost under our horses' 
 noses. But men and beasts were case-hardened, and there 
 was not the slightest movement in our ranks. 
 
 Ben-Amara conducted us into his tent, where each sat 
 down at his ease on a large carpet. 
 
 Our arrival caused a sensation in the tribe, for while we 
 were smoking and drinking coffee a large number of Arabs, 
 impelled by curiosity, ranged themselves in a circle round 
 us, and in their immobility resembled an avenue of bronze 
 statues. 
 
 We devoted about an hour to the pleasures of conver- 
 sation, waiting for the diffa (meal), which we were all 
 impatiently desiring. We even began to find the time 
 very long, when we saw a procession approaching, with 
 banners at its head. 
 
 These banners puzzled me, and seemed very strange, ht 
 they were folded up. All at once the ranks of our peace- 
 able spectators opened, and my surprise was great on finding 
 what I took for banners were only sheep roasted whole 
 and spitted on long poles. 
 
 Two of these sheep-bearers marched in front. They 
 were followed by some twenty men, ranged in line, each 
 of whom bore one of the dishes intended to compose our diffa. 
 _ These consisted of ragouts and loasts of every descrip- 
 tion, the inevitable " couscoussou " and, lastly, a dozen 
 dishes of dessert, the handiwork of Ben-Amara's wives. 
 
 This perambulating dinner was a delicious sight, espe- 
 cially for people whose appetite had been singularly 
 
 Y 2 
 
324 MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOUDIX. 
 
 sharpened by the fresh air and the emotions produced hj 
 the fantasia. 
 
 The head cook marched in front, and, like M. Malbrouo^s^ 
 officer, carried nothing ; but, so soon as he joined us, he 
 sot to work actively. Seizing one of the sheep, he un- 
 spitted it, and laid it before us on a lordly dish. 
 
 To my companions, nearly all Algerian veterans, this 
 gigantic roast was no novelty ; as for my wife and myself, 
 the sight of such food would have been enough to pacify 
 our hunger under other circumstances, but now we has- 
 tened to join the circle round this gigantic dish, which was. 
 worthy of Gargantua. 
 
 We were obliged, as at Bou-Allem's to pull the animal 
 piecemeal with our lingers ; each tore oif a strip at will — I 
 must confess, at starting, with some repugnance. Then^ 
 impelled by a ferocious appetite, we fell on the sheep like 
 wolves, and I know not whether it was owing to the sauce 
 we all had, but the guests unanimously declared they had 
 never eaten anything so good as this roast mutton. 
 
 When we had selected the most delicate pieces, our cook 
 proposed to produce the other animal, but, on our refusal,, 
 he served up roast fowls, to which we did our manly 
 devoir. Then, turning up our noses at the pepper-pot and 
 •' couscoussou," which smelled strongly of rancid butter,, 
 we made up for the want of bread during the meal by nib- 
 bling excellent little cakes. 
 
 There was something really princely about the aga'» 
 reception, so, to thank him, I proposed to give a small per- 
 formance before my numerous spectators, who, in their 
 passionate admiration, could not leave the ground. By 
 their chief's orders they drew nearer and formed a circle 
 round me. The captain was kind enough to act as my in- 
 terpreter, and, thanks to him, I was enabled to perform a 
 dozen of my best tricks. The efifect produced was such 
 that I could not possibly continue, for every one fled at 
 my approach. Ben-Amara assured us they took me for 
 Shaitan himself, but, had I worn the Muhammadan costume,. 
 they would have cast themselves at my feet as an envoy 
 from Heaven. 
 
 On our return to Milianah, the captain, to crown this 
 
RETURX TO ALGERIA. 325 
 
 delicious day of pleasure, gave us the spectacle of a cliase, 
 in which the Arabs, galloping at full speed, caught hares 
 and partridges without once firing. 
 
 The following day we took leave of M. Bourseret and his 
 'excellent mother, and proceeded towards Algiers, but not 
 by a cross road, for we had had enough of them in tra- 
 versing the D'jendel. This sort of party of pleasure, in 
 Tcality a party of pain, may be agreeable for once, for it 
 serves to revive in our inconstant minds the remembrance 
 of the comfort we have voluntarily given up. Hence we 
 took the diligence to Algiers, and on this occasion fully ap- 
 preciated all the advantage of this mode of transport. 
 
 The Alexander steamer, which had brought us from 
 Prance, was to start within two days, and this was all the 
 time I had to take leave and thank all those who had shown 
 me so much kindness. 
 
 On quitting Algiers I had the satisfaction of being con- 
 ducted on board the vessel by two officers of high rank, 
 whose kindness I can never repay. M. Palin du Pare, 
 Colonel of the Marine Staff, and Colonel de Neveu did not 
 leave me till the wheels had begun to turn, and those 
 i^entlemen were the last whose hands I pressed on the 
 African coast. 
 
 Were I to describe all my travelling incidents, I should 
 "have a great deal to narrate before I reached m}'' hermitage 
 ^t St. Gervais ; but I will adhere to my expressed inten- 
 tion of only alluding to events connected with my pro- 
 fessional life. 
 
 A frightful storm at sea — a tornado at the summit of the 
 Pyrenees — death staring us in the face twenty times — are 
 'events as terrible as they are interesting to relate. But 
 these moving episodes, which affect all alike, have been 
 already described by far more skilful pens than mine, hence 
 my description would offer no novelty ; I will content 
 myself, therefore, with giving a summary of this terrible 
 Teturn to France. 
 
 A tempest assailed us in the Gulf of Lyons, and our 
 engines were disabled. Our A^essel, after being tossed 
 about for nine days by the winds, at length reached the 
 
326 MEMOIES OF ROBERT-HOUDiy. 
 
 coast of Spain, and we managed to make the port of Bar- 
 celona, where the authorities would not allow us to land> 
 as we had no passports for Spain. We coasted this inhos- 
 pitable country during a frightful storm, and at length 
 reached the little port of Rosas, where we intended to rid& 
 out the tempest. 
 
 Here I landed, and crossed the Pyrenees in an open 
 carriage, a hurricane, the result of the tempest at sea, 
 threatening to hurl us into an abyss at every moment. 
 At last we safely reached France, and Marseilles, where 
 I was obliged to fulfil a promise made to the managers of 
 the Grand Theatre on my former passage through the town. 
 
 I was, indeed, famously recompensed for the fatigues 
 and dangers of my journey ; for the Marseillais displayed 
 towards me such unexampled kindness, that these last 
 performances will ever remain on my mind as those in 
 which I received the greatest applause. I could not take- 
 my leave of the public in a more solemn way, and I 
 hastened my return to St. Gervais. 
 
 CONCLUSION. 
 
 I CAN, in ending this work, repeat what I said at the 
 beginning of my penultimate chapter : "I have reached 
 the object of my every hope." But this time, if it please 
 God, as my guide Muhammad would say, no temptation 
 will again come to modify my plans of happiness. I hope 
 still for a long time (always if it please God) to enjoy that 
 gentle and peaceful existence which I had scarce tasted 
 when ambition and curiosity took me to Algiers. 
 
 On returning home, I arranged round my study my 
 performing instruments, my faithful comrades, I may 
 almost say, my dear friends; henceforth I intended to 
 devote myself to my darling study, the application of 
 electricity to mechanism. 
 
 It must not be believed that, for that purpose, I disown 
 the art to which I owe so much pleasure. The thought is 
 far from me, I am more than ever proud of having cul- 
 tivated it, as to it alone I own the happiness of devoting 
 
COJ^CLUSION. 327 
 
 myself to my new studies. Besides, I diverge from it 
 less than my readers might be inclined to suppose, for I 
 have, during a long period, applied electricity to mecha- 
 nism, and I must confess — if my readers have not already 
 guessed it — that electricity played an important part in 
 many of my experiments. In reality, my labours of to- 
 day only diifer from the old ones in the form ; but they are 
 still experiments. 
 
 A lingering love for my old clockmaking trade has made 
 me choose chronometro-electrical works as the objects of 
 my study. I have adopted as my motto, " to popularize elec- 
 tric clocks by making them as simple and exact as possible.'' And 
 as art always supposes an ideal which the artist seeks to 
 realize, I already dream of the day when the electric wires, 
 issuing from a single regulator, will radiate through the 
 whole of France, and bear the precise time to the largest 
 towns and the most modest villages. 
 
 In the mean while devoted to the sacred cause of pro- 
 gress, I labour incessantly in the hope that my humble 
 discoveries will be of some service in the solution of this 
 important problem. 
 
 My performance is ended (I must remind my readers 
 that I offered them my narrative under this title) ; but I 
 live in hope to begin it again soon, for I have still so many 
 mysteries, great and small, to unveil. Sleight of hand is 
 an immense quarry on which public curiosity can work for 
 a long time ; hence I do not take leave of my audience, or 
 rather of my readers, for in the second form of performance 
 I have adopted my farewell will not be definitive, until I 
 have exhausted all that may be said about Sleight of 
 Hand and its Professors. These two words will serve as 
 the title of the supplemental part of my Memoirs.* 
 
 * It is possible tliat M. Eobert-Houdin intends to take this revenge, 
 owing to the unfair way in which he was treated during his professional 
 career. In 1850, a man who had been seven years in his service, and 
 in wliom he placed entire confidence, allowed himself to be seduced by 
 the brilliant offers an amateur made him, and sold the secret of some of 
 his master's tricks at a higli price. Justice was appealed to, and 
 stopped this disgraceful traliic : the seller was awarded two years' 
 imprisonment, but tlie buyer could not be touched, and thus many of 
 M. Houdin's tricks passed into strange hands. 
 
328 MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 CHAPTEK XXII. 
 
 A COURSE OF MIRACLES. 
 
 It has been said of the augurs, that they could not look at 
 each other without a laugh ; it would be the same with the 
 Aissaoua, if Mussulman blood did not flow in their veins. 
 At any rate, there is not one among them who is deceived 
 as to the pretended miracles performed by his brethren, 
 but all lend a hand to execute them successfully, like a 
 company of mountebanks, at the head of whom is the 
 Mokaddem. 
 
 Even supposing that their pretended miracles could not 
 be explained, a simple reflection would destroy their 
 prestige. The Aissaoua call themselves invulnerable — 
 then, let them ask one of the audience to place the red- 
 hot iron on their cheek, or some other part of their 
 persons ; they assert they are invulnerable — then, let 
 them invite some Zouaves to pass their sabres through 
 them. After such a spectacle, the most incredulous would 
 bow before them. 
 
 Were I incombustible and invulnerable, I should find a 
 pleasure in offering undoubted proofs. I would put my- 
 self on a spit before a scorching fire, and while roasting, 
 would amuse myseK with eating a salad of pounded glass, 
 seasoned with oil of vitriol. Such a sight would attract 
 the whole world, and I should become a prophet. 
 
 But the Aissaoua have reason to be prudent in the per- 
 formances of these tricks, as I will prove. The principal 
 miracles are as follow : — 
 
 1. Kunning a dagger into the cheek. 
 
 2. Eating the leaves of the prickly pear. 
 
 3. Laying the stomach on the edge of a sabre. 
 
 4. Playing with serpents. 
 
 5. Striking the arm, causing the blood to flow, and 
 stopping it instantaneously. 
 
THE SABRE TRICK. 329 
 
 6. Eating pounded glass, 
 
 7. Swallowing pebbles, bottle-heels, &c. 
 
 8. Walking on red-hot iron, or passing the tongue over a 
 white-hot plate of iron. 
 
 Let US begin with the most simple trick, that of thrusting 
 a dagger into the cheek. 
 
 The Arab who performed this trick turned his back on 
 me ; hence I could get very near him, and watch his move- 
 ments. He placed against his cheek the point of a dagger, 
 which was round and blunt as that of a paper-knife. The 
 iiesh, instead of being pierced, went in for about two inches 
 between the molars, which were kept apart, exactly as a 
 cake of india-rubber would do. 
 
 This trick is best performed by thin and aged persons, 
 because the flesh (of their cheeks is peculiarly elastic. 
 Now, the Aissaoua fulfilled these conditions in every 
 respect. 
 
 The Arab who ate the prickly pear leaves gave us no 
 opportunity of inspecting them, and I am inclined to be- 
 lieve that the leaves had been prepared so as to do him no 
 injury, otherwise he would not have neglected this im- 
 portant point, which would have doubled the merit of the 
 miracle. But even had he shown them to us, this man 
 went through so many unnecessary manoeuvres, that he 
 could very easily have changed them for harmless leaves. 
 In that case, it would be a fifteenth-rate trick of conjuring. 
 
 In the following experiment, two Arabs held a sabre, 
 one by the hilt, the other by the point ; a third then came 
 forward, and after Raising his clothes so as to leave the 
 abdomen quite bare, laid himself flat on the edge of the 
 blade, while a fourth mounted on his back, and seemed to 
 press the whole weight of his body on him. 
 
 This trick may be veiy easily explained. 
 
 Nothing proves to the audience that the sabre is really 
 sharpened, or that the edge is more cutting than the back, 
 although the Arab who holds it by the point is careful to 
 wrap it up in a handkerchief ; in this imitating the jugglers 
 who pretend they have cut their finger with one of the 
 daggers they use in their tricks. 
 
330 MBMOIKS OF ROBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 Besides, in performing this tiick, the iiivulaeralle turned 
 his back on the audience. He knew the advantage to be 
 derived from this circumstance ; hence, at the moment 
 when about to lay himself on the sabre, he very adroitly 
 pulled back over his stomach that portion of his clothing 
 he had raised. Lastly, when the fourth actor mounted on 
 his back, he rested his hands on the shoulders of the Arabs 
 who held the sabre. The latter apparently maintained his 
 balance, but, in reality, they supported the whole weight 
 of his body. Hence, the only requirement for this trick 
 is to have the stomach more or less pressed in, and I will 
 explain presently that this can be effected without any 
 injury or danger. 
 
 As for the Aissaoua, who place their hands in a bag 
 filled with serpents, and play with those reptiles, I will 
 rely on Colonel de Neveu's judgment. This is what he 
 says in his work already quoted : — * 
 
 " We often pushed our incredulity and curiosity so far 
 as to order the Aissaoua to come to our house with their 
 menagerie. All the animals they stated to us were vipers 
 Qifd), were only innocent lizards (hanech), and when we 
 offered to put our hand in the bag holding their reptiles, 
 they hastily retired, convinced that we were not duped by 
 their tricks." 
 
 I will add that these serpents, even had they been of a 
 dangerous character, could have had their teeth pulled 
 out, so as to be harmless. In support of this asser- 
 tion, I noticed that these reptiles left no wound where 
 they bit. 
 
 I did not see the trick performed of striking the arm and 
 making the blood issue ; but it seems to me that a small 
 sponge ^filled with ruddle and concealed in the striking 
 hand, would bo enough to accomplish the prodigy. On 
 wiping the arm, the wound is necessarily cured. 
 
 AVhen I was a boy, I often made wine come out of a 
 knife, or of my finger, by pressing a small sponge full of 
 the liquor which I concealed in my hand. 
 
 I have often seen men champ wine-glasses between their 
 teeth, and not hurt themselves ; but not one of them swal- 
 lowed the fragments. Hence, it was difficult for me to 
 
POWDERED GLASS. 331 
 
 explain this trick of the Aissaoua, till, by the assistance 
 offered me by a physician, I found in the Dictionnaire des 
 Sciences Medicales for 1810, No. 1143, a paper written by 
 Dr. Lesauvage on the harmlessness of powdered glass. 
 
 This gentleman, after quoting various instances of people 
 he had seen eat glass, thus describes various experiments 
 he made on animals : — 
 
 " After placing a great number of dogs, cats, and rats on 
 a dietary of pounded glass, the fragments being two to 
 three lines in length, not one of the animals was ill, and 
 on opening some of them no injury could be detected all 
 along the alimentary canal. Being convinced, too, of the 
 harmlessness of swallowing glass, I determined to take 
 some myself in the presence of my colleague, M. Cagel, of 
 Professor Lallemand, and several other persons. I re- 
 peated this experiment several times, and experienced not 
 the slightest feeling of pain." 
 
 These authentic statements ought to have satisfied me ; 
 still, I wished to witness this singular phenomenon with 
 my own eyes. Hence, I gave one of my house cats an 
 enormous ball of meat seasoned with pounded glass. The 
 animal swallowed it with the greatest pleasure, and seemed 
 even to regret the end of this succulent meal. My family 
 thought the cat booked for death, and began deploring my 
 barbarity, but the next day the animal was perfectly well, 
 and sniffed the spot where on the previous day it had en- 
 joyed the meal. 
 
 Since that period, whenever I want to indulge a friend 
 with this sight, I regale my three cats, in turn, so as not to 
 excite any jealousy among them. 
 
 It took me some time, I confess, before I could decide on 
 performing Dr. Lesauvage's experiment on myself, and, 
 indeed, I saw no necessity for it. Still, one day, in the 
 presence of a friend, I performed this bravado, if it be so ; 
 I also swallowed my bolus, though I was careful to pound 
 my glass much finer than what I gave to my cats. I know 
 not whether it was the effect of imagination, but I fancied 
 I enjoyed my dinner . much more than usual: did I owe 
 this to the pounded glass ? At any rate, it would be a 
 strange way of arousing the appetite. 
 
o32 MKMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 When the trick of swallowing bottle-heels and pebbles 
 was to be done, the Aissaoua really put them in his mouth, 
 but I believe, I may say certainly, that he removed them 
 at the moment when he placed his head in the folds of the 
 Mokaddem's buruous. However, had he swallowed them, 
 there would have been nothing wonderful about this, when 
 "wo compare it with what was done some thirty years 
 back in France by a mountebank called " the sabre swal- 
 lower." 
 
 This man, who performed in the streets, threw back his 
 head so as to form a straight line with his throat, and really 
 ilirust down his gullet a sabre, of which only the hilt re- 
 mained outside the mouth. 
 
 He also swallowed an egg without cracking it, or even 
 nails and pebbles, which he caused to resound, by striking 
 his stomach with his fist. 
 
 These tricks were the result of a peculiar formation in 
 the mountebank's throat, but, if he had lived among the 
 Aissaoua, he would assuredly have been the leading man 
 of the company. 
 
 Or what would the Arabs have said had tliey seen the 
 conjuror who passed a sword right through his body, and 
 when thus spitted, also thrust a knife into either nostril 
 up to the handle ? I witnessed this feat, and others have 
 probably done the same. 
 
 This trick was, in reality, so terrifying, that the public 
 •would implore the man to leave off ; but without troubling 
 "himself about their cries, he would reply, speaking fright- 
 fully through his nose, " that it did hib no harb," and sing 
 in his singular voice the " Fkuvedu Tage," which he accom- 
 panied on a guitar. 
 
 I could not endure the sight of this trick, and would 
 turn my head away in horror when the troubadour drew 
 out the sword, and begged us to notice that it was stained 
 with blood. 
 
 Still, on reflection, I was certain the man could not really 
 pierce his stomach thus, and that there must be some trick 
 ■concealed. 
 
 My love of the marvellous made me desire to know it ; 
 hence, I applied to the invulnerable, and on condition of a 
 
AN INVULNERABLE. 335 
 
 certain sum, and promises not to use it, he sold me his 
 secret. 
 
 I may, in my turn, communicate it to the public without 
 asking from them the same promise. The trick is, how- 
 rather ingenious. 
 
 The performer was very thin — an indispensable quality 
 for the success of the trick. He pressed in liis stomack 
 very tightly with a waist-belt, and produced the following 
 result : the vertebral column being unable to bend, served 
 as a support, and the intestines gave way and fell in about 
 half the space they originally occupied. The mountebank 
 then substituted for the suppressed part a cardboard 
 stomach which restored him to his original condition, and 
 the whole being concealed beneath a flesh-colour tricot^ 
 appeared to form part of his body. On either side, above 
 the hips two ribbon rosettes hid the apertures by which 
 the sword-point would go in and out, these openings being 
 connected by a leathern scabbard which led the weapon, 
 securely from one end to the other, while, in order to pro- 
 duce the blood, a sponge filled with a red liquid was placed 
 in the middle of the sheath. The knives in the nostrils 
 were a reality. The invulnerable vx^as very pug-nosed, which 
 allowed him to draw the cartilage of the nose up prior to 
 the introduction of the knives. 
 
 I possessed the necessary physical qualifications for the 
 sabre trick, but none for that of the knives. I did not 
 attempt the first, much less the second. 
 
 By the way, I may remark that, when a lad, I used to 
 perform two miracles, which might be useful to the Ais- 
 saoua, if they were ever told of them. I will explain them 
 here. 
 
 The corn-curer who taught me to juggle, also showed 
 me a very curious trick, consisting in thrusting a small 
 nail into the right eye, which is then made to pass into the 
 left eye, thence into the mouth, and end by returning into 
 the right eye. 
 
 It may be imagined how I burned with the fire of necro- 
 mancy, since I had the courage to practise this trick, which 
 I found charming. A very disagreeable circumstance, how- 
 ever, deprived me of my faith in the effect produced by it. 
 
334 MEMOIRS OP ROBERT-IIOUDIN, 
 
 1 sometimes spent the evening at a lady's house who had 
 two daughters. I thought I could not select a better place 
 for my first performance, and asked leave to do the trick. 
 Of course this permission was granted, and a circle was 
 formed round me. 
 
 *' Ladies," T said, with a certain degree of emphasis, " I 
 am invulnerable. To furnish you with a proof, I could 
 easily stab myself with a dagger, a knife, or any other 
 sharp instrument ; but I fear lest the sight of blood might 
 produce too agitating an eiFect on you. Hence, I will 
 offer you another proof of my supernatural powers. And I 
 performed my famous trick of " the nail in the eye." 
 
 The effect of this scene was most unexpected, for the 
 performance was scarce over ere one of the young ladies 
 was taken ill and fainted. The evening's amusement was 
 disturbed, as may be supposed, and fearing some recrimina- 
 tions, I bolted without saying a word, declaring that I 
 would never be caught again at such tricks. 
 
 This, however, is the explanation of the trick : — 
 
 A small lead or silver pin may be introduced, without 
 the slightest feeling of pain, in the corner of the eye, near 
 the lachrymal duct, between the lower eyelid and the pupil ; 
 and, strangely enough, this piece of metal once introduced, 
 you do not in the least notice its presence. To bring it out 
 again, you need only press it with the finger. 
 
 If desirous to perform the trick I have alluded to, you 
 proceed in the following way : — 
 
 After secretly placing one of these small nails in the 
 left eye, and another in the mouth, you commence as 
 follows : — 
 
 You openly thrust a nail into your right eye, then, 
 pressing the skin with the end of the finger, you pretend 
 to pass it through the nose into the left eye, whence you 
 withdraw the one put in beforehand. This you return 
 again to the eye, and the nail appears to pass into the 
 mouth, whence you produce the one already hidden there, 
 and thence into the right eye, whence you withdraw the 
 one originally inserted. 
 
 When this is done, you go on one side and remove the 
 nail still remaining in the left eye. 
 
RED-HOT IRON. 335 
 
 But to return to the last trick of the A'issaoua, which 
 consists in walking over hot iron, and passing the tongue 
 over incandescent plates of the same metal. 
 
 The A'issaoua who walks over hot iron does nothing 
 extraordinary, if we consider the conditions under which 
 the trick is performed. 
 
 He quickly glides his heel along the iron ; but the 
 lower-class Arabs, who all walk with naked feet, have the 
 lower part of the foot as hard as a horse's hoof, hence 
 this horny part burns without occasioning the slightest 
 pain. 
 
 And, besides, may not chance have taught the Aissaoua 
 certain precautions known to more than one European 
 juggler, before Dr. Sementrici proved their use and ex- 
 plained them to the public ?" 
 
 Let us quote some performances of our own mounte- 
 banks, and we shall find that the followers of Aissa as 
 miracle-mongers are a long way behindhand in their pre- 
 tended marvels. 
 
 In February, 1677, an Englishman, of the name of 
 Eichardson, came to Paris, and gave some very curious 
 performances, which proved, according to his statement, 
 his incombustibility. 
 
 He was seen to roast a piece of meat on his tongue, light 
 a piece of charcoal in his mouth by means of a pair of bel- 
 lows, seize a bar of red-hot iron in his hand, or hold it be- 
 tween his teeth. 
 
 This Englishman's servant published his master's secret, 
 which may be found in the Journal des Sciences.* 
 
 In 1809, a Spaniard, of the name of Leone tto, gave per- 
 formances at Paris. He also handled a bar of red-hot iron 
 with impimity, passed it through his hair, or stepped upon 
 it ; drank boiling oil, plunged his fingers into melted lead, 
 put some on his tongue, and ended his performance by 
 licking a piece of red-hot iron. 
 
 This extraordinary man attracted the attention of Pro- 
 fessor Sementrici, who began carefully watching him. 
 
 The professor remarked that the tongue of the incom- 
 
 * 1677, first edition, page 41, and second edition, 1680, pp. 24, 147, 
 252. 
 
336 MEMOIRS OP ROBERT HOUDIN. 
 
 hustible was covered with a gray layer, and this discovery 
 led him to try some experiments on himself. He dis- 
 covered that rubbing in a solution of alum, evaporated to a 
 spongy state, rendered the skin insensible to the action of 
 red-hot iron. He also rubbed himself with soap, and 
 found that even the hair did not burn when in that state. 
 
 Satisfied with these investigations, the physician rubbed 
 his tongue with soap and a solution of alum, and the red- 
 hot iron produced no sensation on him. 
 
 The tongue, when thus prepared, could also receive boil- 
 ing oil, which grew cold, and could then be swallowed. 
 
 M. Sementrici also detected that the melted lead Leonetto 
 employed was only Arcet's metal, fusible at the tempera- 
 ture of boiling water. (For further details consult the 
 historic notice of M. Julia de Fontenelle, in Roret's Manuel 
 des Sorciers^ ps^gG 181.) 
 
 These explanations may appear sufficient to disprove the 
 pretended incombustibility of the Aissaoua ; still, I will 
 add a personal fact, whence the conclusion can be drawn 
 that a man need not be inspired by Allah or Aissa to play 
 with red-hot metals. 
 
 Reading one day the Comus, a scientific review, I found a 
 critique of a work called Study on Bodies in a Spheroidal Shapes 
 by M. Boutigny (d'Evreux). The editor of the review, 
 the Abbe Moigno, quotes several of the most interesting 
 passages, among them being the following : — 
 
 *' We passed our fingers through jets of red-hot metal " 
 (M. Boutigny is speaking). " We plunged our hands into 
 moulds and crucibles filled with metal that had just run 
 from a Wilkinson, and of which the radiation was insup- 
 portable, even at a long distance. We carried on these 
 experiments for more than two hours, and Madame Coulet, 
 who was present, allowed her daughter, a child of from eight 
 to ten years to put her hand in a crucible of red-hot metal,. 
 which caused not the slightest injury." 
 
 Knowing the character of the learned abbe, as well as 
 that of the celebrated naturalist and author of the work, it 
 was not possible to doubt : still, I must say, this fact 
 appeared to me so impossible, that my mind refused^ to 
 accept it, and I wished to see, that I might believe. 
 
NO DANGER, BUT SOME FEAE, 337 
 
 I decided] on calling on M. Boutigny, and expressed 
 to him my wish to see so interesting an experiment, 
 while carefully avoiding any expression of doubt on the 
 subject. 
 
 This gentleman received me kindly, and proposed to 
 repeat the experiment before me, when I might have an 
 opportunity to wash my hands in molten metal. 
 
 The proposition was attractive, scientifically speaking ; 
 but on the other hand, I had some fears which the reader 
 will appreciate, I think. In the event of a mistake I should 
 reduce my hands to charcoal, and I was bound to take the 
 greater care of them as they had been such precious instru- 
 ments to me. Hence I hesitated with my reply. 
 
 " Do you not place confidence in me ?" M. Boutigny 
 asked. 
 
 " Oh, certainly, sir, I have plenty of confidence, but " 
 
 " But you are afraid— out with it !" the doctor interrupted 
 me, with a laugh. " Well, to ease your mind, I will try the 
 temperature of the liquid before you place your hands 
 in it." 
 
 " And what is about the temperature of molten 
 metal ?" 
 
 " Close on one thousand six hundred degrees." 
 
 " One thousand six hundred degrees?" I exclaimed. 
 ^' Oh ! the experiment must be splendid : I consent." 
 
 On the day appointed by M. Boutigny, we proceeded to 
 Mr. Davidson's foundry at La Villette, after he had granted 
 us permission to make the experiment. 
 
 I was strangely afi^ected on entering this vast establish- 
 ment; the deafening noise produced by the immense 
 blasts, the flames escaping from the furnaces, the spark- 
 ling jets transported by powerful machines and running 
 into gigantic moulds, the wiry, muscular workmen, 
 blackened by smoke and dust, — all this medley of men 
 and things produced a strange and rather solemn effect 
 upon me. 
 
 The manager came up to us, and pointed out the furnace 
 to which we were to proceed for our experiment. 
 
 While waiting for a jet of metal to run, we remained for 
 a few moments in silence near the furnace ; then we com- 
 
338 ^BMOIRS OF ROBERT-HOUDIN. 
 
 menced the following conversation, which was certainly not 
 of a nature to encourage me ; — 
 
 *' I would only repeat this experiment, which I am not 
 fond of, for your sake," M. Boutigny said ; •' I confess that, 
 though I am morally sure of the result, I alwaj'-s feel an 
 emotion which I cannot dispel." 
 
 " If that be the case," I replied, " suppose we go ? I will 
 believe your word." 
 
 " No, no ; I am bound to show you this curious pheno- 
 menon. But, by-the-way," the learned doctor added, "let 
 me see your hands ?" 
 
 He took them in his. 
 
 *' Hang it," he went on, *' they are very dry for our ex- 
 periment." 
 
 " You think so ?" 
 
 " Certainly." 
 ' *' Then it is dangerous ?" 
 
 " It might be so." 
 
 *' In that case, we will go," I said, turning to the door, 
 
 " That would be a pity," my companion replied, hold- 
 ing me back; "stay, dip your hands in this bucket of 
 water, dry them well, and they will be sufficiently damp." 
 
 I must mention that to insure the success of this mar- 
 vellous experiment no other condition is requisite than to 
 have the hands slightly damp. I regret I can offer no 
 explanations as to the principle of the phenomenon, for this 
 would require many a long chapter ; hence I w^ill refer my 
 readers to M. Boutigny's work. It will be enough to state 
 that the metal when in a state of fusion, is kept at a dis- 
 tance from the skin by a repulsive force, which opposes an 
 insurmountable barrier. 
 
 I had scarce finished wiping my hands when the furnace 
 was opened, and a jet of molten metal, about the thickness 
 of my arm, burst forth. Sparks flew in every direction, as 
 if it were a firework performance. 
 
 "Wait a few minutes," M. Boutigny said, "till the 
 metal is cleansed, for it would be dangerous to try our ex- 
 periment at this moment." 
 
 Five minutes later the stream of liquid fire left off 
 bubbling and emitting scoriaa ; it became, indeed sa 
 
MOLTEN IRON. 339 
 
 limpid and brilliant, that it scorched our eyes at a few- 
 yards ofif. 
 
 All at once my companion walked up to the furnace, and 
 calmly began washing his hands in the metal as if it had 
 been lukewarm water. 
 
 I make no pretence to bravery; I confess at this 
 moment my heart beat as if it would burst, and yet, when 
 M. Boutigny ended his strange ablutions, I walked forward 
 in my turn with a determination that proved a certain 
 strength of will. I imitated my professor's movements, I 
 literally dabbled in the burning liquid, and, in my joy, 
 inspired by this marvellous operation, I took a handful of 
 the metal and threw it in the air, and it fell back in a fire- 
 shower on the ground. 
 
 The impression I felt in touching this molten iron 
 can only be compared to what I should have experienced 
 in handling liquid velvet, if I may express myself so. 
 
 I now ask what are the red-hot bars of the Aissaoua, in 
 comparison to the enormous temperature to which my hands 
 had been exposed ? 
 
 The old and new miracles of the incombustibles are, there- 
 fore, explained by the experiments of a skilful naturalist, 
 who while making no pretence to trickery, only appreciates 
 such phenomena in their relation to the immutable laws by 
 virtue of which they are accomplished. 
 
 THE END. 
 
LONDON: 
 
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