。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。