My proposed Reforms--I build a Theatre in the Palais Royal--Formalities--General Rehearsal--Singular Effect of my Performance--The Largest and Smallest Theatre in Paris--Tribulation--My first Performance--Panic--Discouragement--A Fallible Prophet--Recovery--Success......234 CHAPTER XIV. New Studies--A Comic Journal--Invention of Second Sight--Curious Experiments--An enthusiastic Spectator--Danger of being a Sorcerer--A Philter or your Life--Way to get rid of Bores--An Electric Touch--I perform at the Vaudeville--Struggles with the Incredulous--Interesting Details......253 CHAPTER XV. Seductions of a Theatrical Agent--How to gain One Hundred Thousand Francs--I start for Brussels--A lucky Two-Sou Piece--Miseries of professional Travelling--The Park Theatre--Tyranny of a Porter--Full House--Small Receipts--Deceptions--Return to Paris......273 CHAPTER XVI. Reopening of my Fantastic Soirées--Minor Miseries of Good Luck--Inconvenience of a small Theatre--My Room taken by Storm--A gratuitous Performance--A conscientious Audience--Pleasant Story about a Black Silk Cap--I perform at the Château of St. Cloud--Cagliostro’s Casket--Holidays......294 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......312 CHAPTER XVIII. 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 CHAPTER XIX. 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 CHAPTER XX. 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 CHAPTER XXI. 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 CHAPTER XXII. A COURSE OF MIRACLES......422 INDEX......437 THE AUTHOR’S OVERTURE. 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.