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reason。 I pretended to accede to her wishes。
〃If it be so； madam； I yield to your request。 Tell me what you
require。〃
〃I have told you； sir； I wish for vengeance； and there is only one
method to〃
Here there was a fresh interruption； and the young lady； calmed by
my apparent submission； as well as embarrassed by the request she
had to make of me； became again timid and confused。
〃Well； madam？〃
〃Well； sir； I know not how to tell youhow to explain to youbut
I fancy there are certain meanscertain spellswhich render it
impossibleimpossible for a man to beunfaithful。〃
〃I now understand what you wish； madam。 It is a certain magic
practice employed in the middle ages。 Nothing is easier； and I
will satisfy you。〃
Decided on playing the farce to the end； I took down the largest
book I could find in my library； turned over the leaves； stopped at
a page which I pretended to scan with profound attention； and then
addressing the lady； who followed all my movements anxiously；
〃Madam；〃 I said confidentially； 〃the spell I am going to perform
renders it necessary for me to know the name of the person； have
the kindness； then； to tell it me。〃
〃Julian！〃 she said； in a faint voice。
With all the gravity of a real sorcerer； I solemnly thrust a pin
through a lighted candle； and pronounced some cabalistic words。
After which； blowing out the candle； and turning to the poor
creature； I said：
〃Madam； it is done； your wish is accomplished。〃
〃Oh； thank you； sir；〃 she replied； with the expression of the
profoundest gratitude； and at the same moment she laid a purse on
the table and rushed away。 I ordered my servant to follow her to
her house； and obtain all the information he could about her； and I
learned she had been a widow for a short time； and that the loss of
an adored husband had disturbed her reason。 The next day I visited
her relatives； and； returning them the purse； I told them the scene
the details of which the reader has just perused。
This scene； with some others that preceded and followed it；
compelled me to take measures to guard myself against bores of
every description。 I could not dream； as formerly； of exiling
myself in the country； but I employed a similar resource： this was
to shut myself up in my workroom； and organize around me a system
of defense against those whom I called； in my ill…temper； thieves
of time。
I daily received visits from persons who were utter strangers to
me； some were worth knowing； but the majority； gaining an
introduction under the most futile pretexts； only came to kill a
portion of their leisure time with me。 It was necessary to
distinguish the tares from the wheat； and this is the arrangement I
made：
When one of these gentlemen rang at my door； an electric
communication struck a bell in my workroom； I was thus warned and
put on my guard。 My servant opened the door； and； as is customary；
inquired the visitor's name； while I； for my part； laid my ear to a
tube； arranged for the purpose； which conveyed to me every word。
If； according to his reply； I thought it as well not to receive
him； I pressed a button； and a white mark that appeared in a
certain part of the hall announced I was not at home to him。 My
servant then stated I was out； and begged the visitor to apply to
the manager。
Sometimes it happened that I erred in my judgment； and regretted
having granted an audience； but I had another mode of shortening a
bore's visit。 I had placed behind the sofa on which I sat an
electric spring； communicating with a bell my servant could hear。
In case of need； and while talking； I threw my arm carelessly over
the back of the sofa； touching the spring； and the bell rang。 Then
my servant； playing a little farce； opened the front door； rang the
bell； which could be heard from the room where I sat； and came to
tell me that M。 X… （a name invented for the occasion） wished to
speak to me。 I ordered M。 X… to be shown into an adjoining room；
and it was very rare that my bore did not raise the siege。 No one
can form an idea how much time I gained by this happy arrangement；
or how many times I blessed my imagination and the celebrated
savant to whom the discovery of galvanism is due！
This feeling can be easily explained； for my time was of
inestimable value。 I husbanded it like a treasure； and never
sacrificed it； unless the sacrifice might help me to discover new
experiments destined to stimulate public curiosity。
To support my determination in making my researches； I had ever
before me this maxim：
IT IS MORE DIFFICULT TO SUPPORT ADMIRATION THAN TO EXCITE IT。
And this other； an apparent corollary of the preceding：
THE FASHION AN ARTIST ENJOYS CAN ONLY LAST AS HIS TALENT DAILY
INCREASES。
Nothing increases a professional man's merit so much as the
possession of an independent fortune； this truth may be coarse； but
it is indubitable。 Not only was I convinced of these principles of
high economy； but I also knew that a man must strive to profit by
the fickle favor of the public； which equally descends if it does
not rise。 Hence I worked my reputation as much as I could。 In
spite of my numerous engagements； I found means to give
performances in all the principal theaters； though great
difficulties frequently arose； as my performance did not end till
half…past ten； and I could only fulfill my other engagements after
that hour。
Eleven o'clock was generally the hour fixed for my appearance on a
strange stage； and my readers may judge of the speed required to
proceed to the theater in so short a time and make my preparations。
It is true that the moments were as well counted as employed； and
my curtain had hardly fallen than； rushing toward the stairs； I got
before my audience； and jumped into a vehicle that bore me off at
full speed。
But this fatigue was as nothing compared to the emotion
occasionally produced by an error in the time that was to elapse
between my two performances。 I remember that； one night； having to
wind up the performances at the Vaudeville； the stage manager
miscalculated the time the pieces would take in performing； and
found himself much in advance。 He sent off an express to warn me
that the curtain had fallen； and I was anxiously expected。 Can my
readers comprehend my wretchedness？ My experiments； of which I
could omit none； would occupy another quarter of an hour； but
instead of indulging in useless recriminations； I resigned myself
and continued my performance； though I was a prey to frightful
anxiety。 While speaking； I fancied I could hear that cadenced yell
of the public to which the famous song； 〃Des lampions； des
lampions；〃 was set。 Thus； either through preoccupation or a desire
to end sooner； I found when my performance was over I had gained
five minutes out of the quarter of an hour。 Assuredly； it might he
called the quarter of an hour's grace。
To jump into a carriage and drive to the Place de la Bourse was the
affair of an instant； still； twenty minutes had elapsed since the
curtain fell； and that was an enormous time。 My son Emile and I
proceeded up the actors' stairs at full speed； but on the first
step we had heard the cries； whistling； and stamping of the
impatient audience。 What a prospect！ I knew that frequently；
either right or wrong； the public treated an artiste； no matter
whom； very harshly； to remind him of punctuality。 That sovereign
always appears to have on its lips the words of another monarch： 〃I
was obliged to wait。〃 However； we hurried up the steps leading to
the stage。
The stage manager； who had been watching； on hearing our hurried
steps； cried from the landing：
〃Is that you； M。 Houdin？〃
〃Yes； siryes。〃
〃Raise the curtain！〃 the same voice shouted。
〃Wait； wait； it is imp〃
My breath would not allow me to finish my objection； I fell on a
chair； unable to move。
〃Come； M。 Houdin；〃 the manager said； 〃DO go on the stage； the
curtain is up； and the public are so impatient。〃
The door at the back of the stage was open； but I could not pass
through it； fatigue and emotion nailed me to the spot。 Still； an
idea occurred to me； which saved me from the popular wrath。
〃Go on to the stage； my boy；〃 I said to my son； 〃and prepare all
that is wanting for the second…sight trick。〃
The public allowed themselves to be disarmed by this youth； whose
face inspired a sympathizing interest； and my son； after gravely
bowing to the audience； quietly made his slight preparations； that
is to say； he carried an ottoman to the front of the stage； and
placed on a neighboring table a slate； some chalk； a pack of cards；
and a bandage。
This slight delay enabled me to recover my breath and calm my
nerves； and I advanced in my turn with an attempt to assume the
stereotyped smile； in which I signally failed； as I was so