The St. James's Theatre--Invasion of England by French Performers--A Fête patronised by the Queen--The Diplomatist and the Sleight-of-Hand Man--Three Thousand Pounds taken at one Haul--I perform at Manchester--The Spectators in the Pillory--What capital Curaçoa!--A Torrent of Wine--A Catastrophe--Performance at Buckingham Palace--A Wizard's Repast......330
An Optimist Manager--Three Spectators in a Room--A Magical Collation--The Colchester Public and the Nuts--I return to France--I give up my Theatre--A Farewell Tour--I retire to St. Gervais--An Academician's Predictions......359
Travels in Algeria--Convocation of the Chieftains--Performances before the Arabs--A Kabyle rendered powerless--Invulnerability--A Moor disappears--Panic and Flight of the Audience--Reconciliation--The Sect of Aïssaoua--Their pretended Miracles......371
Excursion in the Interior of Africa--The Abode of a Bash-Aga--A comical Repast--A Soirée of Arab Dignitaries--A Marabout mystified--Tent-life in Algeria--I return to France--A terrible Storm--Conclusion......398
SAINT GERVAIS, NEAR BLOIS, September, 1858.
Eight o'clock has just struck: my wife and children are by my side. I have spent one of those pleasant days which tranquillity, work, and study can alone secure.--With no regret for the past, with no fear for the future, I am--I am not afraid to say it--as happy as man can be.
And yet, at each vibration of this mysterious hour, my pulse starts, my temples throb, and I can scarce breathe, so much do I feel the want of air and motion. I can reply to no questions, so thoroughly am I lost in a strange and delirious reverie.
Shall I confess to you, reader? And why not? for this electrical effect is not of a nature to be easily understood by you.
The reason for my emotion being extreme at this moment is, that, during my professional career, eight o'clock was the moment when I must appear before the public. Then, with my eye eagerly fixed on the hole in the curtain, I surveyed with intense pleasure the crowd that flocked in to see me. Then, as now, my heart beat, for I was proud and happy of such success.
At times, too, a doubt, a feeling of uneasiness, would be mingled with my pleasure. "Heavens!" I would say to myself, in terror, "am I so sure of myself as to deserve such anxiety to see me?"