。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。