tracks of a rolling stone-第22部分

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Much　might　be　said　on　either　side；　but　on　the　whole　it　would　　seem　wisest　to　leave　things　…　in　this　country　…　as　they　are；　　and；　for　one；　I　am　inclined　to　the　belief　that；


Mercy　murders；　pardoning　those　that　kill。




CHAPTER　XIX



WE　were　nearly　six　weeks　in　the　Havana；　being　detained　by　　Lord　Durham's　illness。　　I　provided　myself　with　a　capital　　Spanish　master；　and　made　the　most　of　him。　　This；　as　it　turned　　out；　proved　very　useful　to　me　in　the　course　of　my　future　　travels。　　About　the　middle　of　March　we　left　for　Charlestown　　in　the　steamer　ISABEL；　and　thence　on　to　New　York。　　On　the　　passage　to　Charlestown；　we　were　amused　one　evening　by　the　　tricks　of　a　conjuror。　　I　had　seen　the　man　and　his　wife　　perform　at　the　Egyptian　Hall；　Piccadilly。　　She　was　called　the　　'Mysterious　Lady。'　　The　papers　were　full　of　speculations　as　　to　the　nature　of　the　mystery。　　It　was　the　town　talk　and　　excitement　of　the　season。

This　was　the　trick。　　The　lady　sat　in　the　corner　of　a　large　　room；　facing　the　wall；　with　her　eyes　bandaged。　　The　company　　were　seated　as　far　as　possible　from　her。　　Anyone　was　invited　　to　write　a　few　words　on　a　slip　of　paper；　and　hand　it　to　the　　man；　who　walked　amongst　the　spectators。　　He　would　simply　say　　to　the　woman　'What　has　the　gentleman　（or　lady）　written　upon　　this　paper？'　　Without　hesitation　she　would　reply　correctly。　　　The　man　was　always　the　medium。　　One　person　requested　her；　　through　the　man；　to　read　the　number　on　his　watch；　the　figures　　being；　as　they　always　are；　very　minute。　　The　man　repeated　the　　question：　　'What　is　the　number　on　this　watch？'　　The　woman；　　without　hesitation；　gave　it　correctly。　　A　friend　at　my　side；　　a　young　Guardsman；　took　a　cameo　ring　from　his　finger；　and　　asked　for　a　description　of　the　figures　in　relief。　　There　was　　a　pause。　　The　woman　was　evidently　perplexed。　　She　confessed　　at　last　that　she　was　unable　to　answer。　　The　spectators　　murmured。　　My　friend　began　to　laugh。　　The　conjuror's　bread　　was　at　stake；　but　he　was　equal　to　the　occasion。　　He　at　once　　explained　to　the　company　that　the　cameo　represented　'Leeder　　and　the　Swan　in　a　hambigious　position；　which　the　lady　didn't　　profess　to　know　nothing　about。'　　This　apology；　needless　to　　say；　completely　re…established　the　lady's　character。

Well；　recognising　my　friend　of　the　Egyptian　Hall；　I　reminded　　him　of　the　incident。　　He　remembered　it　perfectly；　and　we　fell　　to　chatting　about　the　wonderful　success　of　the　'mystery；'　and　　about　his　and　the　lady's　professional　career。　　He　had　begun　　life　when　a　boy　as　a　street　acrobat；　had　become　a　street　　conjuror；　had　married　the　'mysterious　lady'　out　of　the　'saw…　dust；'　as　he　expressed　it　…　meaning　out　of　a　travelling　　circus。　　After　that；　'things　had　gone　'ard'　with　them。　　They　　had　exhausted　their　resources　in　every　sense。　　One　night；　　lying　awake；　and　straining　their　brains　to　devise　some　means　　of　subsistence；　his　wife　suddenly　exclaimed；　'How　would　it　be　　if　we　were　to　try　so　and　so？'　explaining　the　trick　just　　described。　　His　answer　was：　　'Oh！　that's　too　silly。　　They'd　　see　through　it　directly。'　　This　was　all　I　could　get　out　of　　him：　　this；　and　the　fact　that　the　trick；　first　and　last；　had　　made　them　fairly　comfortable　for　the　rest　of　their　days。

Now　mark　what　follows；　for　it　is　the　gist　and　moral　of　my　　little　story　about　this　conjuror；　and　about　two　other　miracle　　workers　whom　I　have　to　speak　of　presently。

Once　upon　a　time；　I　was　discussing　with　an　acquaintance　the　　not　unfamiliar　question　of　Immortality。　　I　professed　　Agnosticism　…　strongly　impregnated　with　incredulity。　　My　　friend　had　no　misgivings；　no　doubts　on　the　subject　whatever。　　　Absolute　certainty　is　the　prerogative　of　the　orthodox。　　He　　had　taken　University　honours；　and　was　a　man　of　high　position　　at　the　Bar。　　I　was　curious　to　learn　upon　what　grounds　such　an　　one　based　his　belief。　　His　answer　was：　　'Upon　the　phenomena　　of　electro…biology；　and　the　psychic　phenomena　of　mesmerism。'　　　His　'first　convictions　were　established　by　the　manifestations　　of　the　soul　as　displayed　through　a　woman　called　〃The　　Mysterious　Lady；〃　who；　&c。；　&c。'

When　we　have　done　with　our　thaumaturgist　on　board　the　ISABEL；　　I　will　give　another　instance；　precisely　similar　to　this；　of　　the　simple　origin　of　religious　beliefs。

The　steamer　was　pretty　full；　and　the　conjuror　begged　me　to　　obtain　the　patronage　of　my　noble　friend　and　the　rest　of　our　　party　for　an　entertainment　he　proposed　to　give　that　evening。　　　This　was　easily　secured；　and　a　goodly　sum　was　raised　by　　dollar　tickets。　　The　sleight…of…hand　was　excellent。　　But　the　　special　performance　of　the　evening　deserves　description　in　　full。　　It　was　that　of　a　whist…playing　dog。　　Three　passengers　　…　one　of　us　taking　a　hand　…　played　as　in　dummy　whist；　dummy's　　hand　being　spread　in　a　long　row　upon　the　deck　of　the　saloon　　cabin。　　The　conjuror；　as　did　the　other　passengers；　walked　　about　behind　the　players；　and　saw　all　the　players'　hands；　but　　not　a　word　was　spoken。　　The　dog　played　dummy's　hand。　　When　it　　came　to　his　turn　he　trotted　backwards　and　forwards；　smelling　　each　card　that　had　been　dealt　to　him。　　He　sometimes　　hesitated；　then　comically　shaking　his　head；　would　leave　it　to　　smell　another。　　The　conjuror　stood　behind　the　dog's　partner；　　and　never　went　near　the　animal。　　There　was　no　table　…　the　　cards　were　thrown　on　the　deck。　　They　were　dealt　by　the　　players；　the　conjuror　never　touched　them。　　When　the　dog's　　mind　was　made　up；　he　took　his　card　in　his　mouth　and　laid　it　　on　the　others。　　His　play　was　infallible。　　He　and　his　partner　　won　the　rubber　with　ease。

Now；　to　those　ignorant　of　the　solution；　this　must；　I　think；　　seem　inexplicable。　　How　was　collusion　managed　between　the　　animal　and　its　master？　　One　of　the　conditions　insisted　upon　　by　the　master　himself　was　silence。　　He　certainly　never　broke　　it。　　I　bought　the　trick　…　must　I　confess　it？　for　twenty　　dollars。　　How　transparent　most　things　are　when　…　seen　　through！　　When　the　dog　smelt　at　the　right　card；　the　conjuror；　　who　saw　all　four　hands；　and　had　his　own　in　his　pocket；　　clicked　his　thumb…nail　against　a　finger…nail。　　The　dog　alone　　could　hear　it；　and　played　the　card　accordingly。

The　other　story：　　A　few　years　after　my　return　to　England；　a　　great　friend　called　upon　me；　and；　in　an　excited　state；　　described　a　SEANCE　he　had　had　with　a　woman　who　possessed　the　　power　of　'invoking'　spirits。　　These　spirits　had　correctly　　replied　to　questions；　the　answers　to　which　were　only　known　to　　himself。　　The　woman　was　an　American。　　I　am　sorry　to　say　I　　have　forgotten　her　name；　but　I　think　she　was　the　first　of　her　　tribe　to　visit　this　country。　　As　in　the　case　spoken　of；　my　　friend　was　much　affected　by　the　results　of　the　SEANCE。　　He　　was　a　well…educated　and　intelligent　man。　　Born　to　wealth；　he　　had　led　a　somewhat　wildish　life　in　his　youth。　　Henceforth　he　　became　more　serious；　and　eventually　turned　Roman　Catholic。　　　He　entreated　me　to　see　the　woman；　which　I　did。

I　wrote　to　ask　for　an　appointment。　　She　lived　in　Charlotte　　Street；　Fitzroy　Square；　but　on　the　day　after　the　morrow　she　　was　to　change　her　lodgings　to　Queen　Anne　Street；　where　she　　would　receive　me　at　11　A。M。　　I　was　punctual　to　a　minute；　and　　was　shown　into　an　ordinary　furnished　room。　　The　maid　informed　　me　that　Mrs。　…　had　not　yet　arrived　from　Charlotte　Street；　but　　she　was　sure　to　come　before　long；　as　she　had　an　engagement　　（so　she　said）　with　a　gentleman。

Nothing　could　have　suited　me　better。　　I　immediately　set　to　　work　to　examine　the　room　and　the　furniture　with　the　greatest　　care。　　I　looked　under　and　moved　the　sofa；　tables；　and　　armchairs。　　I　looked　behind　the　curtains；　under　the　rug；　and　　up　the　chimney。　　I　could　discover　nothing。　　There　was　not　the　　vestige　of　a　spirit　anywhere。　　At　last　the　medium　entered　…　a　　plain；　middle…aged　matron　with　nothing　the　least　spiritual　　about　her。　　She　seated　herself　opposite　to　me　at　the　round　　table　in　the　centre　of　the　room；　and　demurely　asked　what　I　　wanted。　　'To　communicate　with　the　spirits；'　I　replied。　　She　　did　not　know　whether　that　was　possible。　　It　depended　upon　the　　person　who　sought　them。　　She　would　ask　the　spirits　whether　　they　would　confer　with　me。　　Whereupon　she　put　the　question：　　　'Will　the　spirits　converse　with　this　gentleman？'　　At　all　　events；　thought　I；　the　term　'gentleman'　applies　to　the　next　　world；　which　is　a　comfort。　　She　listened　for　the　answer。　　　Presently　three　distinct　raps　on　the　table　signified　assent。　　　She　then　took　from　her　reticule　a　card　whereon　were　printed　　the　alphabet；　and　numerals　up　to　10。　　The　letters　were　　separated　by　transverse　lines。　　She　gave　me　a　pencil　with　　these　instructions：　　I　was　to　think；　not　utter；　my　question；　　and　then　put　the　pencil　on　each　of　the　letters　in　succession。　　　When　the　letters　were　touched　which　spelt　the　answer；　the　　spirits　would　rap；　and　the　words　could　be　written　down。

My　friend　had　told　me　this　much；　so　I　came　prepared。　　I　began　　by　politely　begging　the　lady　to　move　away　from　the　table　at　　which　we　were　seated；　and　take　a　chair　in　the　furthest　corner　　of　the　room。　　She　indignantly　complied；　asking　if　I　suspected　　her。　　I　replied　that　'all　ladies　were　dangerous；　when　they　　were　charming；'　which　put　us　on　the　best　of　terms。　　I　placed　　my　hat　so　as　to　intercept　her　view　of　my　operations；　and　thus　　pursued　them。

Thinking　the　matter　over　beforehand；　I　concluded　that　when　　the　questioner；　of　either　sex；　was　young；　love　would　very　　probably　be　the　topic；　the　flesh；　not　the　spirit；　would　be　　the　predominant　interest。　　Being　an　ingenuous　young　man　of　　the　average　sort；　and　desperately　in　love　with　Susan；　let　us　　say；　I　should　naturally　assist　the　supernatural　being；　if　at　　a　loss；　to　understand　that　the　one　thing　wanted　was　　information　about　Susan。　　I　therefore　mentally　asked　the　　question：　　'Who　is　the　most　lovely　angel　without　wings；　and　　with　the　means　of　sitting　down？'　and　proceeded　to　pass　the　　pencil　over　the　letters；　pausing　nowhere。　　I　now　and　then　got　　a　doubtful　rap　on　or　under　the　table；　…　how　delivered　I　know　　not　…　but　signifying　nothing。　　It　was　clear　the　spirits　　needed　a　cue。　　I　put　the　pencil　on　the　letter　S；　and　kept　it　　there。　　I　got　a　tentative　rap。　　I　passed　at　once　to　U。　　I　got　　a　more　confident　rap。　　Then　to　S。　Rap；　rap；　without　　hesitation。　　A　and　N　were　assented　to　almost　before　I　touched　　them。　　Susan　was　an