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nerves； and I advanced in my turn with an attempt to assume the
stereotyped smile； in which I signally failed； as I was so
agitated。 The audience at first remained silent； then their faces
gradually unwrinkled； and soon； one or two claps having been
ventured； they were carried away and peace was made。 I was well
rewarded； however； for this terrible ordeal； as my 〃second…sight〃
never gained a more brilliant triumph。
An incident greatly enlivened the termination of my performance。
A spectator； who had evidently come on purpose to embarrass us； had
tried in vain for some minutes to baffle my son's clairvoyance；
when； turning to me； he said； laying marked stress on his words：
〃As your son is a soothsayer； of course he can guess the number of
my stall？〃
The importunate spectator doubtless hoped to force us into a
confession of our impotence； for he covered his number； and the
adjacent seats being occupied； it was apparently impossible to read
the numbers。 But I was on my guard against all surprises； and my
reply was ready。 Still； in order to profit as much as possible by
the situation； I feigned to draw back。
〃You know； sir；〃 I said； feigning an embarrassed air； 〃that my son
is neither sorcerer nor diviner； he reads through my eyes； and
hence I have given this experiment the name of second sight。 As I
cannot see the number of your stall； and the seats close to you are
occupied； my son cannot tell it you。〃
〃Ah！ I was certain of it；〃 my persecutor said； in triumph； and
turning to his neighbors： 〃I told you I would pin him。〃
〃Oh； sir！ you are not generous in your victory；〃 I said； in my
turn； in a tone of mockery。 〃Take care； if you pique my son's
vanity too sharply； he may solve your problem； though it is so
difficult。〃
〃I defy him；〃 said the spectator； leaning firmly against the back
of his seat； to hide the number better〃yes； yesI defy him！〃
〃You believe it to be difficult； then？〃
〃I will grant more： it is impossible。〃
〃Well； then； sir； that is a stronger reason for us to try it。 You
will not be angry if we triumph in our turn？〃 I added； with a
petulant smile。
〃Come； sir； we understand evasions of that sort。 I repeat itI
challenge you both。〃
The public found great amusement in this debate； and patiently
awaited its issue。
〃Emile；〃 I said to my son； 〃prove to this gentleman that nothing
can escape your second sight。〃
〃It is number sixty…nine；〃 the boy answered； immediately。
Noisy and hearty applause rose from every part of the theater； in
which our opponent joined； for； confessing his defeat； he
exclaimed； as he clapped his hands； 〃It is astounding
magnificent！〃
The way I succeeded in finding out the number of the stall was
this： I knew beforehand that in all theaters where the stalls are
divided down the center by a passage； the uneven numbers are on the
right； and the even on the left。 As at the Vaudeville each row was
composed of ten stalls； it followed that on the right hand the
several rows must begin with one； twenty…one； forty…one； and so on；
increasing by twenty each。 Guided by this； I had no difficulty in
discovering that my opponent was seated in number sixty…nine；
representing the fifth stall in the fourth row。 I had prolonged
the conversation for the double purpose of giving more brilliancy
to my experiment； and gaining time to make my researches。 Thus I
applied my process of two simultaneous thoughts； to which I have
already alluded。
As I am now explaining matters； I may as well tell my readers some
of the artifices that added material brilliancy to the second
sight。 I have already said this experiment was the result of a
material communication between myself and my son which no one could
detect。 Its combinations enabled us to describe any conceivable
object； but； though this was a splendid result； I saw that I should
soon encounter unheard…of difficulties in executing it。
The experiment of second sight always formed the termination of my
performance。 Each evening I saw unbelievers arrive with all sorts
of articles to triumph over a secret which they could not unravel。
Before going to see Robert…Houdin's son a council was held； in
which an object that must embarrass the father was chosen。 Among
these were half…effaced antique medals； minerals； books printed in
characters of every description （living and dead languages）； coats…
of…arms； microscopic objects； etc。
But what caused me the greatest difficulty was in finding out the
contents of parcels； often tied with a string； or even sealed up。
But I had managed to contend successfully against all these
attempts to embarrass me。 I opened boxes； purses； pocketbooks；
etc。； with great ease； and unnoticed； while appearing to be engaged
on something quite different。 Were a sealed parcel offered me； I
cut a small slit in the paper with the nail of my left thumb； which
I always purposely kept very long and sharp； and thus discovered
what it contained。 One essential condition was excellent sight；
and that I possessed to perfection。 I owed it originally to my old
trade； and practice daily improved it。 An equally indispensable
necessity was to know the name of every object offered me。 It was
not enough to say； for instance； 〃It is a coin〃； but my son must
give its technical name； its value； the country in which it was
current； and the year in which it was struck。 Thus； for instance；
if an English crown were handed me； my son was expected to state
that it was struck in the reign of George IV； and had an intrinsic
value of six francs eighteen centimes。
Aided by an excellent memory； we had managed to classify in our
heads the name and value of all foreign money。 We could also
describe a coat…of…arms in heraldic terms。 Thus； on the arms of
the house of X… being handed me； my son would reply： 〃Field
gules； with two croziers argent in pale。〃 This knowledge was very
useful to us in the salons of the Faubourg Saint Germain； where we
were frequently summoned。
I had also learned the charactersthough unable to translate a
wordof an infinity of languages； such as Chinese； Russian；
Turkish Greek； Hebrew； etc。 We knew； too； the names of all
surgical instruments； so that a surgical pocketbook； however
complicated it might be； could not embarrass us。 Lastly； I had a
very sufficient knowledge of mineralogy； precious stones；
antiquities； and curiosities； but I had at my command every
possible resource for acquiring these studies； as one of my dearest
and best friends； Aristide le Carpentier； a learned antiquary； and
uncle of the talented composer of the same name； had； and still
has； a cabinet of antique curiosities； which makes the keepers of
the imperial museums fierce with envy。 My son and I spent many
long days in learning here names and dates of which we afterwards
made a learned display。 Le Carpentier taught me many things； and；
among others； he described various signs by which to recognize old
coins when the die is worn off。 Thus； a Trajan； a Tiberius； or a
Marcus Aurelius became as familiar to me as a five…franc piece。
Owing to my old trade； I could open a watch with ease； and do it
with one hand； so as to be able to read the maker's name without
the public suspecting it： then I shut up the watch again and the
trick was ready； my son managed the rest of the business。
But that power of memory which my son possessed in an eminent
degree certainly did us the greatest service。 When we went to
private houses； he needed only a very rapid inspection in order to
know all the objects in a room； as well as the various ornaments
worn by the spectators； such as chatelaines； pins； eyeglasses；
fans； brooches； rings； bouquets； etc。 He thus could describe these
objects with the greatest ease； when I pointed them out to him by
our secret communication。 Here is an instance：
One evening； at a house in the Chaussee d'Antin； and at the end of
a performance which had been as successful as it was loudly
applauded； I remembered that； while passing through the next room
to the one we were now in； I had begged my son to cast a glance at
a library and remember the titles of some of the books； as well as
the order they were arranged in。 No one had noticed this rapid
examination。
〃To end the second…sight experiment； sir；〃 I said to the master of
the house； 〃I will prove to you that my son can read through a
wall。 Will you lend me a book？〃
I was naturally conducted to the library in question； which I
pretended now to see for the first time； and I laid my finger on a
book。
〃Emile；〃 I said to my son； 〃what is the name of this work？〃
〃It is Buffon；〃 he replied quickly。
〃And the one by its side？〃 an incredulous spectator hastened to
ask。
〃On the right or left？〃 my son asked。
〃On the right；〃 the speaker said； having a good reason for choos