For two months I worked with great ardor, granting myself no rest or pleasure. Sometimes, however, after dinner on Sunday, I allowed myself a recreation which may seem strange to many of my readers: I went to the fairs round Paris, and studied the mountebanks. There I amused myself, I may say, as much as any of the spectators around me; though the pleasure I felt was not of the same nature as that of my neighbors. I amused myself by seeing their amusement, and nothing more; for any one who has seen this style of spectacle must have noticed that the mountebank gives his public very little for their money. The best part of the sight is often seen outside. CHAPTER XVII. New Experiments--Aërial Suspension, &c.--A Performance at the Odéon--A Friend in Need--1848--The Theatre deserted--I leave Paris for London--Manager Mitchell--Publicity in England--The Great Wizard--A Butter-mould used as a Puff--Singular Bills--A Prize for the best Pun. Instead of being able to recommence my performances on the 1st of September, as I had hoped, my compulsory holidays, which might be called my “penal servitude,” were prolonged another month, and it was not till the 1st of October that I was prepared to offer my new experiments to the public. My pecuniary interests were much affected by this delay, but I trusted, correctly enough, to the zeal of the public to visit me, as a compensation. My new repertory contained the _Crystal Box_, the _Fantastic Portfolio_, the _Trepèze Tumbler_, the _Garde Française_, the _Origin of Flowers_, the _Crystal Balls_, the _Inexhaustible Bottle_, the _Ethereal Suspension_, &c. I had devoted especial care to the last experiment, on which I built great hopes. Surgery had supplied me with the first idea of it. It will be remembered that in 1847 the insensibility produced by inhaling ether began to be applied in surgical operations; all the world talked about the marvellous effect of this anæsthetic, and its extraordinary results. In the eyes of many people it seemed much akin to magic. Seeing that the surgeons had invaded my domain, I asked myself if this did not allow me to make reprisals. I did so by inventing my _ethereal suspension_, which, I believe, was far more surprising than any result obtained by my surgical brethren. The subject I intended to operate on was my younger son, and I could not have selected one better suited for the experiment. He was a stout lad of about six years of age, and his plump and rosy face was the picture of health. In spite of his youth, he displayed the greatest intelligence in learning his part, and played it with such perfection, that the most incredulous were duped. This trick was very much applauded, and I am bound to say that my arrangements were excellently made: this was the first time I tried to direct the surprise of my spectators by gradually heightening it up to the moment when, so to speak, it exploded.