THE EVENTS OF AN EVENING.

“Basil, my boy, if you are going to that place, you must take Collins with you.”

“Won’t you go yourself, father?”

“I!  Is the boy mad!”

“I hope not, sir; only as you took eight reserved seats, I thought....”

“You’ve no business to think, sir!  Seven of those tickets are in the fire.”

“For fear, then, you should fancy to burn the eighth, I’ll wish you good-evening!”

So away I darted, called to Collins to follow me, and set off at a brisk pace towards the Red Lion Hotel.  Collins was our indoor servant; a sharp, merry fellow, some ten years older than myself, who desired no better employment than to escort me upon such an occasion as the present.  The audience had begun to assemble when we arrived.  Collins went into the shilling places, while I ensconced myself in the second row of reserved seats.  I had an excellent view of the stage.  There, in the middle of the platform, stood the conjuror’s table—­a quaint, cabalistic-looking piece of furniture with carved black legs and a deep bordering of green cloth all round the top.  A gay pagoda-shaped canopy of many hues was erected overhead.  A long white wand leaned up against the wall.  To the right stood a bench laden with mysterious jars, glittering bowls, gilded cones, mystical globes, colored glass boxes, and other properties.  To the left stood a large arm-chair covered with crimson cloth.  All this was very exciting, and I waited breathlessly till the Wizard should appear.

He came at last; but not, surely, our dapper little visitor of yesterday!  A majestic beard of ashen gray fell in patriarchal locks almost to his knees.  Upon his head he wore a high cap of some dark fur; upon his feet embroidered slippers; and round his waist a glittering belt patterned with hieroglyphics.  A long woollen robe of chocolate and orange fell about him in heavy folds, and swept behind him, like a train.  I could scarcely believe, at first, that it was the same person; but, when he spoke, despite the pomp and obscurity of his language.  I recognised the plaintive voice of the little Chevalier.

“Messieurs et Mesdames,” he began, and took up the wand to emphasize his discourse; “to read in the stars the events of the future—­to transform into gold the metals inferior—­to discover the composition of that Elixir who, by himself, would perpetuate life, was in past ages the aim and aspiration of the natural philosopher.  But they are gone, those days—­they are displaced, those sciences.  The Alchemist and the Rosicrucian are no more, and of all their race, the professor of Legerdemain alone survives.  Ladies and gentlemen, my magic he is simple.  I retain not familiars.  I employ not crucible, nor furnace, nor retort.  I but amuse you with my agility of hand, and for commencement I tell you that you shall be deceived as well as the Wizard of the Caucasus can deceive you.”