Chapter I: The Theatre of Robert-Houdin.2

Before I proceed to the practical discussion of my subject, it may be as well perhaps to give a few particulars concerning the theatre founded by me under the title of the _Théâtre des Soirées Fantastiques de Robert-Houdin_,[3] in which I exhibited, during a long series of years, the majority of the illusions which I am about to describe in this book. And I fancy it may be agreeable to the reader if I prelude my description by an anecdote whose details (if I may judge from the effect which its mere recollection, after twenty years’ interval, produces on myself) cannot fail to excite his lively interest.

I have related in my _Confidences_[4] how from a mechanician I had developed into a conjuror; but I was not then at liberty, from reasons which will presently appear, to state the singular circumstance to which I am indebted for having been enabled to build my theatre with pecuniary resources much more limited than such an undertaking would ordinarily demand. I may now speak freely upon the subject, and shall do so with the greater pleasure that I am thereby afforded an opportunity of paying a grateful tribute to one whose noble nature and delicate generosity the following narrative will illustrate. This exordium will further serve as a dedication to the memory of my deeply regretted benefactor and friend.

In 1843, when I was as yet only a clockmaker and constructor of mechanical curiosities, I chanced to sell a chronometer-clock to the Count de l’Escalopier. This clock, to which I had devoted special attention, was the cause of my noble client paying me sundry visits in order to express his satisfaction with its performance. I had some reason to think, however, that my customer, who was passionately devoted to the arts in general, and to mechanics in particular, was rather glad to avail himself of the excuse of offering a fairly-earned compliment to the mechanician, in order to pay me an occasional call. He was sure to find, at each visit, some new curiosity in course of construction, and he used, without ceremony, to take his seat beside my workbench in order to watch me at work.

At the date I speak of, as I have elsewhere mentioned, while employed with my workpeople in the production of articles of a saleable character, I was engaged in the fabrication of sundry mechanical pieces destined to figure, though possibly at a very remote date, in the public performances which I intended some day to give.

A kind of intimacy having thus become established between M. de l’Escalopier and myself, I was naturally led to talk to him of my projects of appearing in public; and, in order to justify them, I had given him, on more than one occasion, specimens of my skill in sleight-of-hand. Prompted doubtless by his friendly feelings, my spectator steadily applauded me, and gave me the warmest encouragement to put my schemes into actual practice. Count de l’Escalopier, who was the possessor of a considerable fortune, lived in one of those splendid houses which surround the square which has been called _Royale_, or _des Vosges_, according to the colour of the flag of our masters of the time being. I myself lived in a humble lodging in the _Rue de Vendôme_, in the _Marais_, but the wide disproportion in the style of our respective dwelling-places did not prevent the nobleman and the artist from addressing each other as “my dear neighbour,” or sometimes even as “my dear friend.”

My neighbour then being, as I have just stated, warmly interested in my projects, was constantly talking of them; and in order to give me opportunities of practice in my future profession, and to enable me to acquire that confidence in which I was then wanting, he frequently invited me to pass the evening in the company of a few friends of his own, whom I was delighted to amuse with my feats of dexterity. It was after a dinner given by M. de l’Escalopier to the Archbishop of Paris,[5] with whom he was on intimate terms, that I had the honour of being presented to the reverend prelate as a mechanician and future magician, and that I performed before him a selection of the best of my experiments.

At that period--I don’t say it in order to gratify a retrospective vanity--my skill in sleight-of-hand was of a high order. I am warranted in this belief by the fact that my numerous audience exhibited the greatest wonderment at my performance, and that the Archbishop himself paid me, in his own handwriting, a compliment which I cannot refrain from here relating.

I had reserved for the last item of my programme a trick which, to use a familiar expression, I had at my fingers’ ends. In effect it was shortly as follows:--After having requested the spectators carefully to examine a large envelope sealed on all sides, I had handed it to the Archbishop’s Grand Vicar, begging him to keep it in his own possession. Next, handing to the prelate himself a small slip of paper, I requested him to write thereon, secretly, a sentence, or whatever he might choose to think of; the paper was then folded in four, and (apparently) burnt. But scarcely was it consumed and the ashes scattered to the winds, than, handing the envelope to the Archbishop, I requested him to open it The first envelope being removed a second was found, sealed in like manner; then another, until a dozen envelopes, one inside another, had been opened, the last containing the scrap of paper restored intact. It was passed from hand to hand, and each read as follows:--

“Though I do not claim to be a prophet, I venture to predict, sir,
that you will achieve brilliant success in your future career.”

I begged Monseigneur Affre’s permission to keep the autograph in question, which he very graciously gave me.[6]

After the evening above mentioned, M. de l’Escalopier never ceased urging me to “strike the decisive blow,” as he called it, and was frequently quite importunate upon the subject. In answer to these friendly solicitations I urged the non-completion of certain indispensable apparatus, which, however, was not the precise truth. The real cause of my successive delays was the inadequacy of my pecuniary resources.

Whether rightly or wrongly, I was too proud to admit the fact, trusting that hard work would sooner or later bring me to the desired goal. However, one day, being driven into a corner over our often repeated discussion, I was compelled to make a half admission of the truth.

“The very thing,” said the Count, in the heartiest manner possible; “I have at home, at this very moment, ten thousand francs or so, which I really don’t know what to do with. Do me the favour to borrow them for an indefinite period; you will be doing me an actual service.”

I was wholly unprepared for this generous offer, and declined it. Why I did so I scarcely know, save that I hesitated to risk the interests of a friend beforehand in the uncertainties of my speculation. M. de l’Escalopier tried various arguments to conquer my scruples, the cause of which he rightly conjectured; not succeeding, he left me, evidently somewhat annoyed.

It was some time before I saw him again, to my great regret--for I must own that his visits, which had till then been very regular, gave me much pleasure, and afforded an excitement which greatly aided my labours; in fact, my noble neighbour had become indispensable to me; and I had all but made up my mind to go and look for him when, one afternoon, he made his appearance at my workshop. He looked greatly disturbed, and appeared to be labouring under some strong emotion.

“My dear neighbour,” he said, as he came in, “since you are resolved not to accept a favour from me, I have now come to beg one of you. This is the state of the case. My mother, my wife, and myself are threatened with a serious danger--I may say with a frightful calamity. This misfortune you may be able to guard us against. Listen, and judge for yourself. For the last year my desk has been robbed from time to time of very considerable sums of money. Not knowing who was the culprit, I have sent away my servants, one after another. I have adopted all possible kinds of safeguards and precautions--having the place watched, changing the locks, secret fastenings to the doors, etc.--but none of these has foiled the villainous ingenuity of the thief. This very morning, I have just discovered that a couple of thousand-franc notes have disappeared. Only imagine,” added the Count, “what a frightful position the whole family is placed in; the robber, whoever he may be, judging by the cool audacity he has displayed, would be likely enough, if caught in the fact, to murder one or more of us in order to effect his escape. Do, pray, suggest, without delay, some means of discovering, and, if possible, catching this rascally thief.”

“Count,” I replied, “you know that my magic power, unfortunately, only extends to the tips of my fingers, and, in the present instance, I really don’t see how I can help you.”

“You don’t see how you can help us!” replied the Count. “Surely, you have a mighty aid in mechanics!”

“Mechanics! Stop a bit. You have given me an idea. I remember, in truth, that when I was a boy at school, I did, by the aid of a rather primitive contrivance, find out a rascal who was in the habit of stealing my boyish possessions. Improving on the same idea, perhaps I may be able to contrive some new trap for the robber. Let me think the matter over, and to-morrow you shall hear the result.”

When I was left alone, urged on by that feverish excitement which an inventor can provoke at will, I had speedily found an answer to the problem propounded to me. I at once made a sketch of my intended contrivance, and set to work without delay, assisted by two of my workmen, who remained with me the whole of the night. At eight o’clock in the morning the apparatus was finished, and ready to be fixed.

M. de l’Escalopier, to whom I forthwith went, had been beforehand cautioned by a line from me, and had, under various pretexts, sent all his servants away from the house, so that no one should be aware of our visit.

While I was placing the apparatus in position, the Count, who did not know how it was intended to operate, repeatedly expressed his surprise at seeing my right hand covered by a very thick padded glove. I would not, however, explain the secret until my arrangements were completely finished.

“Look,” I said, after I had closed the desk, “let us suppose that I am the robber. I put the key in the lock. I turn it as carefully as possible; but scarcely is the lid ever so little open, when--” here the report of a pistol was heard, and on the back of my glove, printed in indelible characters, appeared the word “Robber.”

Wishing to explain to the Count the effect which had been thus produced--

“The report of the pistol,” I said, “is to give the alarm, and summon you to the spot, in whatever part of the house you may chance to be. In the next place, you observe, as soon as the opening of the desk allows sufficient space, this claw-like apparatus, attached to a light rod and impelled by a spring, comes smartly down on the back of the hand which holds the key. The ‘claw’ is, in truth, a mere tattooing instrument; it consists of a number of very short but sharp points, so arranged as to form the word ROBBER. These points are brought through a pad impregnated with nitrate of silver, a portion of which is forced by the blow into the punctures, and makes the scars indelible for life.”

Upon hearing my explanation, M. de l’Escalopier looked very grave, not to say shocked.

“Good Heavens! my dear friend, that would be a fearful thing to do. Justice alone has the right to brand a criminal. Such an indelible mark, which the poor wretch could only get rid of by a horrible self-mutilation, would be but too likely, by classing him permanently among the enemies of society, to close the door of repentance to him altogether. Such a course would be inhuman, indeed, unjust. And besides,” he added, with a look of horror, “might it not happen that, through carelessness, forgetfulness, or some fatal mistake, one of our own people was the victim of our stern precautions; and then----”

I had, however, at the very first words of the Count perceived the justice of his apprehensions, and interrupting him--

“You are quite right,” I said, “I had not thought of those objections; but there is no harm done. I only ask an hour or two to make such an alteration in the apparatus as shall leave you nothing either to fear or to wish for.”

I hastened to shut myself up again in my workshop, and before the close of the day I had taken back the instrument in an altered form. In place of the branding apparatus, I had inserted a kind of cat’s-claw, which would make a slight scratch on the hand, a mere surface wound, capable of being easily cured. We closed the desk, and my neighbour and myself parted company, to wait further events.

In order to stimulate the cupidity of the robber, M. de l’Escalopier sent more than once for his stockbroker--money was ostentatiously passed from hand to hand--a pretence was made of going away from home, of a trip to a short distance, and complete absence of the heads of the family. But the bait was a failure, for a week passed without any result whatever. The Count, who came to see me each morning, invariably saluted me with the same words, “Nothing as yet.”

The l’Escalopier household almost began to believe in the supernatural. For my own part, I racked my brains in vain to imagine the cause of my ill success.

We had reached the sixteenth day of waiting, and I had at last made up my mind not to bother myself any more about the affair, when, early in the morning, M. de l’Escalopier suddenly made his appearance, looking much excited.

“We have caught the thief at last,” he said, wiping his forehead, like a man who has just finished some laborious task; but before I tell you who he proves to be, I will relate exactly what has happened. I was this morning in my library, which, as you know, is some distance from my sleeping-room, when I heard a loud ‘bang.’ Recognizing at once the report of our ‘trap,’ but having no weapon at hand, I snatched up a battle-axe from a stand of armour, and ran to seize the robber. In the hurry of the moment, I acted, perhaps, rather rashly, for I had not the least notion what sort of adversary I might have to tackle, and my rather primitive weapon might have been but a scant protection. However, when I reached the spot, I pushed the door vigorously, and rushed boldly in. Imagine my astonishment, when I found myself face to face with Bernard,[7] my confidential servant, my factotum, I might almost say my friend--a man whom I have treated in the most familiar way for over twenty years. Completely bewildered, scarcely believing my own eyes, and not knowing what to think,--‘What Bernard,’ I stammered, ‘what was that noise, and how do you come to be just now in my room?’

“‘That is easily explained, Count,’ replied Bernard, in the coolest manner possible. ‘I came, as you yourself have done, at the sound of the explosion, and as I got here, I saw a man just making his escape down the back stairs. I was so alarmed, that I hadn’t the power to follow him. He must be out of the house by this time.’

“Without a moment’s thought, I ran down to the foot of the staircase which he indicated. But the door was locked, and the key inside. A frightful thought struck me. Could Bernard himself be the culprit? I retrace my footsteps, and now the truth is evident, unpleasant though it be. I notice that Bernard keeps his right hand behind him. I drag it forcibly in sight, and showing the blood with which it is covered--

“‘Wretched man!’ I exclaim, flinging him from me with disgust, ‘there is the witness of your crime!’

“The rascal, who, up to the latest moment, had tried to keep up the deception, now threw himself at my feet, begging for mercy. I turned a deaf ear, and left him, taking care, however, to place him under lock and key first.

“You know,” added the Count, “my worthy doctor, G----; he is a man whose advice is always worth having. I hurried off in search of him, and told him what had taken place. After having discussed over the best course to adopt, we returned to my house.

“‘Now, then,’ I said sternly to Bernard, ‘how long have you been robbing me?’

“‘For nearly two years.’

“‘And how much have you taken, pray?’

“‘I cannot tell exactly. Perhaps 15,000 francs, or thereabouts.’

“‘We will call it 15,000 francs,’ I replied, ‘I will make you a present of the rest, for I have no doubt you are deceiving me still. And what have you done with the money?’

“‘I have invested it in Government Stock. The scrip is in my desk.’

“‘We took him to his room, where he handed over to us scrip equivalent to the amount which he admitted having robbed me of; after which, I made him write, then and there, a declaration in the terms following:--

* * * * *

“‘I, the undersigned, hereby admit having stolen from the Count de
l’Escalopier the sum of 15,000 francs, taken by me from his desk by
the aid of false keys.

“‘BERNARD X----.

“‘Paris, the -- day of --, 18--.’

* * * * *

“Lastly, the doctor, addressing the culprit, said, sternly--

“‘It is to your own interest, beginning from to-day, to return to a life of honesty, and thereby to endeavour to redeem your shameful past; if otherwise, this document, which will remain in my hands, shall be handed over to the proper authorities, and you will be called upon to supply in a criminal court the details of this confession. Now, be off with you, and remember that you are forbidden ever to enter this house again.’”

(I may here mention that Bernard died the following year, and his former master, only too ready to forgive, shed a tear to his memory, telling me that he felt certain that the weight of his remorse had killed him.)

Having concluded his story, M. de l’Escalopier drew from his pocket a pocket-book, took from it some folded papers, and handing them to me with delightful cordiality--

“I do hope, my dear friend,” he said, “that you will no longer refuse me the pleasure of lending you this sum, which I owe entirely to your ingenuity and mechanical skill; take it, return it to me just when you like, with the understanding that it is only to be repaid out of the profits of your theatre.”

At this generous offer I was fairly overcome by emotion, and I remained for some moments without being able to get out a single word. At last, controlling myself by an effort, I rose, and flinging my arms round the neck of my noble-hearted friend--

“Etiquette be hanged!” I said; “you must really let me embrace you for your generous kindness.”

This embrace was the only security which M. de l’Escalopier would accept from me.[8]

Thanks to this augmentation of my finances, I was able to give immediate effect to my architectural intentions, and without further delay I built, in the _Palais Royal_, a theatre whose interior and surroundings I propose briefly to describe.

The galleries which surround the garden of the _Palais Royal_ are divided into successive arches, occupied by shops which are, with reason, reputed to contain the richest, most elegant, and most tasteful wares that Paris can boast. Above these arches there are, on the first floor, spacious suites of apartments, used as public assembly rooms, clubs, cafés, restaurants, etc. It was in the space occupied by one of these suites, at No. 164 of the _Rue de Valois_, that I built my theatre, which extended, in width over three of the above mentioned arches; and in length the distance between the garden of the _Palais Royal_ and the _Rue de Valois_, or, in other words, the whole depth of the building. The dimensions of my exhibition-room were therefore, as will be seen, very limited; a couple of hundred persons could barely be accommodated therein; it should, however, be mentioned that the benches were comfortably divided into separate seats. Though the seats were few in number, their prices were tolerably high, which made up for their scarcity, so far as my interests were concerned. The reader may judge by the table following--

Orchestra stalls 5 francs.

Private boxes 4 ”

Reserved seats 3 ”

Amphitheatre 2 ”

Children were paid for as grown persons.

At the outset, the portion known as the amphitheatre was called the “pit,” which in truth it was. But, later on, perceiving that many people were shy of occupying seats so described, I had recourse to an euphemism, and employed the word “amphitheatre,” to designate the seats in question. The alteration answered very well indeed, for among the occupants of these seats there was a large proportion of ladies. My stage was small, but in due proportion to the size of the auditorium; it represented a sort of miniature drawing-room of the Louis XV. period, in white and gold, furnished solely with what was absolutely necessary for the purpose of my performance. There were a centre table, two consoles, and two small _guéridons_;[9] a broad shelf, in the same style, extended right across the back of the stage, on this I placed articles intended for use in my performance. The flooring was covered with an elegant carpet. On each side of the stage, right and left, was a pair of folding doors, the width of opening thereby created being necessary to allow of the passage of my mechanical pieces. The accompanying sketch (Fig. 1) will render my explanation complete.

The door on the right of the stage led to a room, in which, in the evening, I made my preliminary preparations for my tricks, and which, in the morning, served as my workshop. A large window, looking out over the garden of the _Palais Royal_, made this a very pleasant room, and it was here that I contrived the greater number of the tricks which I am about to describe.

FOOTNOTES:

[2] In the original a chapter entitled “_Introduction dans la demeure de l’Auteur_” is here introduced, but being merely a reprint of a similar chapter in _Les Secrets de la Prestidigitation et de la Magie_, which has been already translated in our English version of that work, it is not here repeated.--ED.

[3] The public materially shortened the above title, _Théâtre Robert-Houdin_ now fully indicating both the place and the nature of the performance.--R.-H.

[4] _Les Confidences d’un Prestidigitateur_, the title under which Robert-Houdin wrote his autobiography.--ED.

[5] Monseigneur Affre, killed at the barricades in 1849.--R.-H.

[6] This slip of paper I preserved as a religious relic. I kept it in a secret corner of a pocket-book which I always carried about my person. During my travels in Algeria I had the misfortune to lose both this pocket-book and the precious object which it contained.--R.-H.

[7] I change the name, for obvious reasons.--R.-H.

[8] The singular favour with which my performances were received by the public, enabled me to repay my generous creditor within a year after the opening of my theatre.--R.-H.

[9] Small round tables.