A Conjurers Confessions | Page 4

produced no effect on the first
performance. I am inclined to believe that the spectators fancied
themselves the dupes of accomplices, but I was much annoyed by the

result, as I had built on the surprise I should produce; still, having no
reason to doubt its ultimate success, I was tempted to make a second
trial, which turned out well.
The next evening I noticed in my room several persons who had been
present on the previous night, and I felt they had come a second time to
assure themselves of the reality of the experiment. It seems they were
convinced, for my success was complete, and amply compensated for
my former disappointment.
I especially remember a mark of singular approval with which one of
my pit audience favored me. My son had named to him several objects
he offered in succession; but not feeling satisfied, my incredulous
friend, rising, as if to give more importance to the difficulty he was
about to present, handed me an instrument peculiar to cloth merchants,
and employed to count the number of threads. Acquiescing in his wish,
I said to my boy, "What do I hold in my hand?"
"It is an instrument to judge the fineness of cloth, and called a thread
counter."
"By Jove!" my spectator said, energetically, "it is marvelous. If I had
paid ten francs to see it, I should not begrudge them."
From this moment my room was much too small, and was crowded
every evening.
Still, success is not entirely rose-colored, and I could easily narrate
many disagreeable scenes produced by the reputation I had of being a
sorcerer; but I will only mention one, which forms a resume of all I
pass over:
A young lady of elegant manners paid me a visit one day, and although
her face was hidden by a thick veil, my practiced eyes perfectly
distinguished her features. She was very pretty.
My incognita would not consent to sit down till she was assured we
were alone, and that I was the real Robert-Houdin. I also seated myself,

and assuming the attitude of a man prepared to listen, I bent slightly to
my visitor, as if awaiting her pleasure to explain to me the object of her
mysterious visit. To my great surprise, the young lady, whose manner
betrayed extreme emotion, maintained the most profound silence, and I
began to find the visit very strange, and was on the point of forcing an
explanation, at any hazard, when the fair unknown timidly ventured
these words:
"Good Heavens! sir, I know not how you will interpret my visit."
Here she stopped, and let her eyes sink with a very embarrassed air;
then, making a violent effort, she continued:
"What I have to ask of you, sir, is very difficult to explain."
"Speak, madam, I beg," I said, politely, "and I will try to guess what
you cannot explain to me."
And I began asking myself what this reserve meant.
"In the first place," the young lady said, in a low voice, and looking
round her, "I must tell you confidentially that I loved, my love was
returned, and I--I am betrayed."
At the last word the lady raised her head, overcame the timidity she felt,
and said, in a firm and assured voice:
"Yes, sir--yes, I am betrayed, and for that reason I have come to you."
"Really, madam," I said, much surprised at this strange confession, "I
do not see how I can help you in such a matter."
"Oh, sir, I entreat you," said my fair visitor, clasping her hands-- "I
implore you not to abandon me!"
I had great difficulty in keeping my countenance, and yet I felt an
extreme curiosity to know the history concealed behind this mystery.
"Calm yourself, madam," I remarked, in a tone of tender sympathy;

"tell me what you would of me, and if it be in my power--"
"If it be in your power!" the young lady said, quickly; "why, nothing is
more easy, sir."
"Explain yourself, madam."
"Well, sir, I wish to be avenged."
"In what way?"
"How, you know better than I, sir; must I teach you? You have in your
power means to--"
"I, madam?"
"Yes, sir, you! for you are a sorcerer, and cannot deny it."
At this word sorcerer, I was much inclined to laugh; but I was
restrained by the incognita's evident emotion. Still, wishing to put an
end to a scene which was growing ridiculous, I said, in a politely
ironical tone:
"Unfortunately, madam, you give me a title I never possessed."
"How, sir!" the young woman exclaimed, in a quick tone, "you will not
allow you are--"
"A sorcerer, madam? Oh, no, I will not."
"You will not?"
"No, a thousand times no, madam."
At these words my visitor