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!