I had also learned the characters--though unable to translate a word--of an infinity of languages, such as Chinese, Russian, Turkish, Greek, Hebrew, &c. We knew, too, the names of all surgical instruments, so that a surgical pocket-book, however complicated it might be, could not embarrass us. Lastly, I had a very sufficient knowledge of mineralogy, precious stones, antiquities, and curiosities; but I had at my command every possible resource for acquiring these studies, as one of my dearest and best friends, Aristide le Carpentier, a learned antiquary, and uncle of the talented composer of the same name, had, and still has, a cabinet of antique curiosities, which makes the keepers of the imperial museums fierce with envy. My son and I spent many long days in learning here names and dates, of which we afterwards made a learned display. Le Carpentier taught me many things, and, among others, he described various signs by which to recognise old coins when the die is worn off. Thus, a Trajan, a Tiberius, or a Marcus Aurelius became as familiar to me as a five-franc piece. Owing to my old trade, I could open a watch with ease, and do it with one hand, so as to be able to read the maker’s name without the public suspecting it: then I shut up the watch again and the trick was ready; my son managed the rest of the business. But that power of memory which my son possessed in an eminent degree certainly did us the greatest service. When we went to private houses, he needed only a very rapid inspection, in order to know all the objects in a room, as well as the various ornaments worn by the spectators, such as châtelaines, pins, eye-glasses, fans, brooches, rings, bouquets, &c. He thus could describe these objects with the greatest ease, when I pointed them out to him by our secret communication. Here is an instance: One evening, at a house in the Chaussée d’Antin, and at the end of a performance which had been as successful as it was loudly applauded, I remembered that, while passing through the next room to the one we were now in, I had begged my son to cast a glance at a library and remember the titles of some of the books, as well as the order they were arranged in. No one had noticed this rapid examination. “To end the second sight experiment, sir,” I said to the master of the house, “I will prove to you that my son can read through a wall. Will you lend me a book?” I was naturally conducted to the library in question, which I pretended now to see for the first time, and I laid my finger on a book. “Emile,” I said to my son, “What is the name of this work?” “It is Buffon,” he replied, quickly. “And the one by its side?” an incredulous spectator hastened to ask. “On the right or left?” my son asked. “On the right,” the speaker said, having a good reason for choosing this book, for the lettering was very small.