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slightly built and perfectly isolated。 After which； without
further preface； I told him to mount upon it； and covered him with
an enormous cloth cone； open at the top。
Then； drawing the cone and its contents on to a plank； the ends of
which were held by my servant and myself； we walked to the
footlights with our heavy burden； and upset it。 The Moor had
disappearedthe cone was perfectly empty！
Immediately there began a spectacle which I shall never forget。
The Arabs were so affected by this last trick； that； impelled by an
irresistible feeling of terror； they rose in all parts of the
house； and yielded to the influence of a general panic。 To tell
the truth； the crowd of fugitives was densest at the door of the
dress circle； and it could be seen； from the agility and confusion
of these high dignitaries； that they were the first to wish to
leave the house。
Vainly did one of them； the Caid of the Beni…Salah； more courageous
than his colleagues； try to restrain them by his words：
〃Stay！ stay！ we cannot thus lose one of our coreligionists。 Surely
we must know what has become of him； or what has been done to him。
Stay！ stay！〃
But the coreligionists only ran away the faster； and soon the
courageous caid； led away by their example； followed them。
They little knew what awaited them at the door of the theater； but
they had scarce gone down the steps when they found themselves face
to face with the 〃resuscitated Moor。〃
The first movement of terror overcome； they surrounded the man；
felt and cross…questioned him； but； annoyed by these repeated
questions； he had no better recourse than to escape at full speed。
The next evening the second performance took place； and produced
nearly the same effect as the previous one。
The blow was struck： henceforth the interpreters and all those who
had dealings with the Arabs received orders to make them understand
that my pretended miracles were only the result of skill； inspired
and guided by an art called prestidigitation； in no way connected
with sorcery。
The Arabs doubtless yielded to these arguments； for henceforth I
was on the most friendly terms with them。 Each time a chief saw
me； he never failed to come up and press my hand。 And； even more；
these men whom I had so terrified； when they became my friends；
gave me a precious testimony of their esteemI may say； too； of
their admiration； for that is their own expression。
IV
FACING THE ARAB'S PISTOL
＇The severest trial of all was unexpectedly encountered during a
visit paid by the conjurer and his wife to Bou…Allem…ben…Sherifa；
Bash…Aga of the Djendel； a tribe of the desert interior。＇
We entered a small room very elegantly decorated； in which were two
divans。
〃This；〃 our host said； 〃is the room reserved for guests of
distinction； you can go to bed when you like； but if you are not
tired； I would ask your leave to present to you several chief men
of my tribe； who； having heard of you； wish to see you。〃
〃Let them come in；〃 I said； after consulting Madame Houdin； 〃we
will receive them with pleasure。〃
The interpreter went out； and soon brought in a dozen old men；
among whom were a Marabout and several talebs； whom the bash…aga
appeared to hold in great deference。
They sat down in a circle on carpets and kept up a very lively
conversation about my performances at Algiers。 This learned
society discussed the probability of the marvels related by the
chief of the tribe； who took great pleasure in depicting his
impressions and those of his coreligionists at the sight of the
MIRACLES I had performed。
Each lent an attentive ear to these stories； and regarded me with a
species of veneration； the Marabout alone displayed a degree of
skepticism； and asserted that the spectators had been duped by what
he called a vision。
Jealous of my reputation as a French sorcerer； I thought I must
perform before the unbeliever a few tricks as a specimen of my late
performance。 I had the pleasure of astounding my audience； but the
Marabout continued to offer me a systematic opposition； by which
his neighbors were visibly annoyed； the poor fellow did not
suspect； though； what I had in store for him。
My antagonist wore in his sash a watch； the chain of which hung
outside。
I believe I have already mentioned a certain talent I possess of
filching a watch； a pin； a pocketbook； etc。； with a skill by which
several of my friends have been victimized。
I was fortunately born with an honest and upright heart； or this
peculiar talent might have led me too far。 When I felt inclined
for a joke of this nature； I turned it to profit in a conjuring
trick； or waited till my friend took leave of me； and then recalled
him： 〃Stay；〃 I would say； handing him the stolen article； 〃let this
serve as a lesson to put you on your guard against persons less
honest than myself。〃
But to return to our Marabout。 I had stolen his watch as I passed
near him and slipped into its place a five…franc piece。
To prevent his detecting it； and while waiting till I could profit
by my larceny； I improvised a trick。 After juggling away Bou…
Allem's rosary； I made it pass into one of the numerous slippers
left at the door by the guests； this shoe was next found to be full
of coins； and to end this little scene comically； I made five…franc
pieces come out of the noses of the spectators。 They took such
pleasure in this trick that I fancied I should never terminate it。
〃Douros！ douros！〃＇1＇ they shouted； as they twitched their noses。 I
willingly acceded to their request； and the douros issued at
command。
＇1＇ Gold Arabic coin。
The delight was so great that several Arabs rolled on the ground；
this coarsely expressed joy on the part of Mohammedans was worth
frenzied applause to me。
I pretended to keep aloof from the Marabout； who； as I expected；
remained serious and impassive。
When calm was restored； my rival began speaking hurriedly to his
neighbors； as if striving to dispel their illusion； and； not
succeeding； he addressed me through the interpreter：
〃You will not deceive me in that way；〃 he said； with a crafty look。
〃Why so？〃
〃Because I don't believe in your power。〃
〃Ah； indeed！ Well； then； if you do not believe in my power； I will
compel you to believe in my skill。〃
〃Neither in one nor the other。〃
I was at this moment the whole length of the room from the
Marabout。
〃Stay；〃 I said to him； 〃you see this five…franc piece。〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Close your hand firmly； for the piece will go into it in spite of
yourself。〃
〃I am ready；〃 the Arab said； in an incredulous voice； as he held
out his tightly closed fist。
I took the piece at the end of my fingers； so that the assembly
might all see it； then； feigning to throw it at the Marabout； it
disappeared at the word 〃Pass！〃
My man opened his hand； and； finding nothing in it； shrugged his
shoulders； as if to say； 〃You see； I told you so。〃
I was well aware the piece was not there； but it was important to
draw the Marabout's attention momentarily from the sash； and for
this purpose I employed the feint。
〃That does not surprise me；〃 I replied； 〃for I threw the piece with
such strength that it went right through your hand； and has fallen
into your sash。 Being afraid I might break your watch by the blow；
I called it to me： here it is！〃 And I showed him the watch in my
hand。
The Marabout quickly put his hand in his waist belt； to assure
himself of the truth； and was quite stupefied at finding the five…
franc piece。
The spectators were astounded。 Some among them began telling their
beads with a vivacity evidencing a certain agitation of mind； but
the Marabout frowned without saying a word； and I saw he was
spelling over some evil design。
〃I now believe in your supernatural power；〃 he said； 〃you are a
real sorcerer； hence； I hope you will not fear to repeat here a
trick you performed in your theater〃； and offering me two pistols
he held concealed beneath his burnous； he added； 〃Come； choose one
of these pistols； we will load it； and I will fire at you。 You
have nothing to fear； as you can ward off all blows。〃
I confess I was for a moment staggered； I sought a subterfuge and
found none。 All eyes were fixed upon me； and a reply was anxiously
awaited。
The Marabout was triumphant。
Bou…Allem； being aware that my tricks were only the result of
skill； was angry that his guest should be so pestered； hence he
began reproaching the Marabout。 I stopped him； however； for an
idea had occurred to me which would save me from my dilemma； at
least temporarily； then； addressing my adversary：
〃You are aware；〃 I said； with assurance； 〃that I require a talisman
in order to be invulnerable； and； unfortunately； I have left mine
at Algiers