第章

。TheAmbassadorMontaguetoArlington。[1][1]StatePapers，France，vol。126。

MyLord，TheLieutenantcriminelhathproceededprettyfarrewithLeRouxMarsilly。ThecrimetheyformetheirprocesseonbeeingarapewhichhehadformerlycommittedatNismessoethatheperceivingbutlittlehopesofhislife，sentwordtotheKingifheewouldpardonhimhecouldrevealethingstohimwhichwouldconcernehimmoreandbeofgreaterconsequencetohim，thanhisdestruction。

VII。Thesametothesame。

Paris：June26，’69。

MyLord，IheardthatMarsillywastobebrokeonthewheelandIgaveorderthentooneofmyservantstowriteMr。Williamsonwordofit，soeIsupposeyouhaveheardofitalready：theyhastenedhisexecutionforfeareheshouldhavedyedofthehurthehaddonehimselfthedaybefore；theysentforaministertohimwhenhewasuponthescaffoldtoseeifhewouldconfesseanything，buthestillpersistedthathewasguiltyofnothingnordidnotknowwhyhewasputtodeath-

TrueStoriesofModernMagicM。Robert-HoudinAConjurer’sConfessions

[Sleight-of-handtheoriesalonecannotexplainthemysteriesof“magic“aspracticedbythateminentFrenchmanwhorevolutionizedtheentireart，andwhowasfinallycalledupontohelphisgovernmentoutofadifficuity——Robert-Houdin。Thesuccessofhismostfamousperformanceshungnotonlyonanincredibledexterity，butalsoonhighingenuityandmoralcourage，asthefollowingpagesfromhis“Memoirs“willprovetothereader。Thestorybeginswhentheyoungmanoftwentywaslaboringpatientlyasapprenticetoawatchmaker。]

Inordertoaidmyprogressandaffordmerelaxation，mymasterrecommendedmetostudysometreatisesonmechanicsingeneral，andonclockmakinginparticular。Asthissuitedmytasteexactly，I

gladlyassented，andIwasdevotingmyselfpassionatelytothisattractivestudy，whenacircumstance，apparentlymostsimple，suddenlydecidedmyfuturelifebyrevealingtomeavocationwhosemysteriousresourcesmustopenavastfieldformyinventiveandfancifulideas。

OneeveningIwentintoabookseller’sshoptobuyBerthoud’s“TreatiseonClockmaking，“whichIknewhehad。Thetradesmanbeingengagedatthemomentonmattersmoreimportant，tookdowntwovolumesfromtheshelvesandhandedthemtomewithoutceremony。OnreturninghomeIsatdowntoperusemytreatiseconscientiously，butjudgeofmysurprisewhenIreadonthebackofoneofthevolumes“SCIENTIFICAMUSEMENTS。“Astonishedatfindingsuchatitleonaprofessionalwork，Iopeneditimpatiently，and，onrunningthroughthetableofcontents，mysurprisewasdoubledonreadingthesestrangephrases：

Thewayofperformingtrickswiththecards——Howtoguessaperson’sthoughts——Tocutoffapigeon’shead，torestoreittolife，etc。，etc。

Thebooksellerhadmadeamistake。Inhishaste，hehadgivenmetwovolumesoftheEncyclopaediainsteadofBerthoud。Fascinated，however，bytheannouncementofsuchmarvels，Idevouredthemysteriouspages，andthefurthermyreadingadvanced，themoreI

sawlaidbarebeforemethesecretsofanartforwhichIwasunconsciouslypredestined。

IfearIshallbeaccusedofexaggeration，oratleastnotbeunderstoodbymanyofmyreaders，whenIsaythatthisdiscoverycausedmethegreatestjoyIhadeverexperienced。Atthismomentasecretpresentimentwarnedmethatsuccess，perhapsglory，wouldonedayaccruetomeintheapparentrealizationofthemarvelousandimpossible，andfortunatelythesepresentimentsdidnoterr。

Theresemblancebetweentwobooks，andthehurryofabookseller，werethecommonplacecausesofthemostimportanteventinmylife。

Itmaybeurgedthatdifferentcircumstancesmighthavesuggestedthisprofessiontomeatalaterdate。Itisprobable；butthenI

shouldhavehadnotimeforit。Wouldanyworkman，artisan，ortradesmangiveupacertainty，howeverslightitmaybe，toyieldtoapassionwhichwouldbesurelyregardedasamania？Hencemyirresistiblepenchantforthemysteriouscouldonlybefollowedatthispreciseperiodofmylife。

HowoftensincehaveIblessedthisprovidentialerror，withoutwhichIshouldhaveprobablyvegetatedasacountrywatchmaker!Mylifewouldhavebeenspentingentlemonotony；Ishouldhavebeensparedmanysufferings，emotions，andshocks：but，ontheotherhand，whatlivelysensations，whatprofounddelightwouldhavebeensacrificed!

Iwaseagerlydevouringeverylineofthemagicbookwhichdescribedtheastoundingtricks；myheadwasaglow，andIattimesgavewaytothoughtswhichplungedmeinecstasy。

Theauthorgaveaveryplainexplanationofhistricks；still，hecommittedtheerrorofsupposinghisreaderspossessedofthenecessaryskilltoperformthem。Now，Iwasentirelydeficientinthisskill，andthoughmostdesirousofacquiringit，Ifoundnothinginthebooktoindicatethemeans。Iwasinthepositionofamanwhoattemptstocopyapicturewithoutpossessingtheslightestnotionofdrawingandpainting。

Intheabsenceofaprofessortoinstructme，IwascompelledtocreatetheprinciplesofthescienceIwishedtostudy。Inthefirstplace，Irecognizedthefundamentalprincipleofsleight-of-

hand，thattheorgansperformingtheprincipalpartarethesightandtouch。Isawthat，inordertoattainanydegreeofperfection，theprofessormustdeveloptheseorganstotheirfullestextent——for，inhisexhibitions，hemustbeabletoseeeverythingthattakesplacearoundhimathalfaglance，andexecutehisdeceptionswithunfailingdexterity。

Ihadbeenoftenstruckbytheeasewithwhichpianistscanreadandperformatsightthemostdifficultpieces。Isawthat，bypractice，itwouldbepossibletocreateacertaintyofperceptionandfacilityoftouch，renderingiteasyfortheartisttoattendtoseveralthingssimultaneously，whilehishandswerebusyemployedwithsomecomplicatedtask。ThisfacultyIwishedtoacquireandapplytosleight-of-hand；still，asmusiccouldnotaffordmethenecessaryelements，Ihadrecoursetothejuggler’sart，inwhichIhopedtomeetwithananalogousresult。

Itiswellknownthatthetrickwiththeballswonderfullyimprovesthetouch，butdoesitnotimprovethevisionatthesametime？Infact，whenajugglerthrowsintotheairfourballscrossingeachotherinvariousdirections，herequiresanextraordinarypowerofsighttofollowthedirectionhishandshavegiventoeachoftheballs。Atthisperiodacorn-cutterresidedatBlois，whopossessedthedoubletalentofjugglingandextractingcornswithaskillworthyofthelightnessofhishands。Still，withboththesequalities，hewasnotrich，andbeingawareofthatfact，Ihopedtoobtainlessonsfromhimatapricesuitedtomymodestfinances。

Infact，fortenfrancsheagreedtoinitiatemeinthejugglingart。

Ipracticedwithsomuchzeal，andprogressedsorapidly，thatinlessthanamonthIhadnothingmoretolearn；atleast，Iknewasmuchasmymaster，withtheexceptionofcorn-cutting，themonopolyinwhichIlefthim。Iwasabletojugglewithfourballsatonce。

Butthisdidnotsatisfymyambition；soIplacedabookbeforeme，and，whiletheballswereintheair，Iaccustomedmyselftoreadwithoutanyhesitation。

Thiswillprobablyseemtomyreadersveryextraordinary；butI

shallsurprisethemstillmore，whenIsaythatIhavejustamusedmyselfbyrepeatingthiscuriousexperiment。ThoughthirtyyearshaveelapsedsincethetimeofwhichIamwriting，andthoughI

scarcelyoncetouchedtheballsduringthatperiod，Icanstillmanagetoreadwitheasewhilekeepingthreeballsup。

Thepracticeofthistrickgavemyfingersaremarkabledegreeofdelicacyandcertainty，whilemyeyewasatthesametimeacquiringapromptitudeofperceptionthatwasquitemarvelous。PresentlyI

shallhavetospeakoftheservicethisrenderedmeinmyexperimentofsecondsight。Afterhavingthusmademyhandssuppleanddocile，Iwentonstraighttosleight-of-hand，andImoreespeciallydevotedmyselftothemanipulationofcardsandpalmistry。

Thisoperationrequiresagreatdealofpractice；for，whilethehandisheldapparentlyopen，balls，corks，lumpsofsugar，coins，etc。，mustbeheldunseen，thefingersremainingperfectlyfreeandlimber。

Owingtothelittletimeatmydisposal，thedifficultiesconnectedwiththesenewexperimentswouldhavebeeninsurmountablehadInotfoundamodeofpracticingwithoutneglectingmybusiness。Itwasthefashioninthosedaystowearcoatswithlargepocketsonthehips，calledalaproprietaire，sowhenevermyhandswerenototherwiseengagedtheyslippednaturallyintomypockets，andsettoworkwithcards，coins，oroneoftheobjectsIhavementioned。

ItwillbeeasilyunderstoodhowmuchtimeIgainedbythis。Thus，forinstance，whenoutonerrandsmyhandscouldbeatworkonbothsides；atdinner，IoftenatemysoupwithonehandwhileIwaslearningtosauterlacoupewiththeother——inshort，theslightestmomentofrelaxationwasdevotedtomyfavoritepursuit。

[AthousandmoretrialsofpatienceandperseverancefinallybroughttotheconjureraParisiantheaterandanappreciativeclientele。Butheneverceasedtolaborandimprovethequalityofhismarvelouseffects。]

Theexperiment，however，towhichIowedmyreputationwasoneinspiredbythatfantasticgodtowhomPascalattributesallthediscoveriesofthissublunaryworld：itwaschancethatledmestraighttotheinventionofSECONDSIGHT。

Mytwochildrenwereplayingonedayinthedrawing-roomatagametheyhadinventedfortheirownamusement。Theyoungerhadbandagedhiselderbrother’seyes，andmadehimguesstheobjectshetouched，andwhenthelatterhappenedtoguessright，theychangedplaces。Thissimplegamesuggestedtomethemostcomplicatedideathatevercrossedmymind。

Pursuedbythenotion，Iranandshutmyselfupinmyworkroom，andwasfortunatelyinthathappystatewhenthemindfollowseasilythecombinationstracedbyfancy。Irestedmyhandinmyhands，and，inmyexcitement，laiddownthefirstprinciplesofsecondsight。

Myreaderswillremembertheexperimentsuggestedtomeformerlybythepianist’sdexterity，andthestrangefacultyIsucceededinattaining：Icouldreadwhilejugglingwithfourballs。Thinkingseriouslyofthis，Ifanciedthatthis“perceptionbyappreciation“

mightbesusceptibleofequaldevelopment，ifIapplieditsprinciplestothememoryandthemind。

Iresolved，therefore，onmakingsomeexperimentswithmysonEmile，and，inordertomakemyyoungassistantunderstandthenatureoftheexerciseweweregoingtolearn，Itookadomino，thecinq-quatreforinstance，andlaiditbeforehim。Insteadoflettinghimcountthepointsofthetwonumbers，Irequestedtheboytotellmethetotalatonce。

“Nine，“hesaid。

ThenIaddedanotherdomino，thequarter-tray。

“Thatmakessixteen，“hesaid，withoutanyhesitation。Istoppedthefirstlessonhere；thenextdaywesucceededincountingatasingleglancefourdominoes，thedayaftersix，andthusweatlengthwereenabledtogiveinstantaneouslytheproductofadozendominoes。

Thisresultobtained，weappliedourselvestoafarmoredifficulttask，overwhichwespentamonth。MysonandIpassedrapidlybeforeatoy-shop，oranyotherdisplayingavarietyofwares，andcastanattentiveglanceuponit。Afewstepsfartheronwedrewpaperandpencilfromourpockets，andtriedwhichcoulddescribethegreaternumberofobjectsseeninpassing。Imustownthatmysonreachedaperfectionfargreaterthanmine，forhecouldoftenwritedownfortyobjects，whileIcouldscarcereachthirty。Oftenfeelingvexedatthisdefeat，Iwouldreturntotheshopandverifyhisstatement，butherarelymadeamistake。

Mymalereaderswillcertainlyunderstandthepossibilityofthis，buttheywillrecognizethedifficulty。Asformyladyreaders，I

amconvincedbeforehandtheywillnotbeofthesameopinion，fortheydailyperformfarmoreastoundingfeats。Thus，forinstance，Icansafelyassertthataladyseeinganotherpassatfullspeedinacarriage，willhavehadtimetoanalyzehertoiletfromherbonnettohershoes，andbeabletodescribenotonlythefashionandqualityofthestuffs，butalsosayifthelaceberealoronlymachine-made。Ihaveknownladiesdothis。

Thisnatural，oracquired，facultyamongladies，butwhichmysonandIhadonlygainedbyconstantpractice，wasofgreatserviceinmyperformances，forwhileIwasexecutingmytricks，Icouldseeeverythingthatpassedaroundme，andthuspreparetofoilanydifficultiespresentedme。Thisexercisehadgivenme，sotospeak，thepoweroffollowingtwoideassimultaneously，andnothingismorefavorableinconjuringthantobeabletothinkatthesametimebothofwhatyouaresayingandofwhatyouaredoing。I

eventuallyacquiredsuchaknackinthisthatIfrequentlyinventednewtrickswhilegoingthroughmyperformances。Oneday，even，I

madeabetIwouldsolveaprobleminmechanicswhiletakingmypartinconversation。Weweretalkingofthepleasureofacountrylife，andIcalculatedduringthistimethequantityofwheelsandpinions，aswellasthenecessarycogs，toproducecertainrevolutionsrequired，withoutoncefailinginmyreply。

Thisslightexplanationwillbesufficienttoshowwhatistheessentialbasisofsecondsight，andIwilladdthatasecretandunnoticeablecorrespondence[1]existedbetweenmysonandmyself，bywhichIcouldannouncetohimthename，nature，andbulkofobjectshandedmebyspectators。

[1]“Telegraphy。“

Asnoneunderstoodmymodeofaction，theyweretemptedtobelieveinsomethingextraordinary，and，indeed，mysonEmile，thenagedtwelve，possessedalltheessentialqualitiestoproducethisopinion，forhispale，intellectual，andeverthoughtfulfacerepresentedthetypeofaboygiftedwithsomesupernaturalpower。