The herald., 1893-07-09

ately got up and left the group.
"Well. SIR" said the lady, "give me
your arm, and ! will Introduce you.
Your audience is growing impatient,
Certainly, madame, in just ono mo-
ment," said Latournelle, feeling with
his foot for his sApper, and 80 reooM-
mnning the ranarkabIe jlg sxocuted by
tho general few moments before Now
the other players laughed outright
which they had not dared to do the first
time. And the mistress Of the house
stood there, surprised at being kept
waiting SO long and wondering how
much longer her escort would keepiher
In that attitude Impatient ladies came
in shoals to add their solicitations to
those of their hostess.
Our young man positively had to get
out Of the predicamept some how. He
did get out Of it, but with only one shoe.
for he also had stopped down and dis
covered the disappearance Of the mis-
guided slipper, and he marveled in deep
anxiety how he was going to explain such
q state Of affairs. IS
His one shod foot provoked general
hilarity, then delighted applause and
cries of Its trickl It's some trickw
The petted darling of tho ladies smiled
weak smile and stammered;
Eyes, ladies, it is trick"
Applause, accompanied by general
clapping of hands, greeted this an
nouncement, while Latournelle kept say
ing to himself:
"Oh, yes. it's great trick, but some
one has played it on me, and don't find
it 80 very funny. If I only knew who it
was"-then, struck with an idea: "Heav-
enss If 1t could be the general-his sin
gular performance just now-and saw
him stoop down--if it was really he, it
would be pretty uncomfortable joke on
me. How can make surey'
AS he escorted the lady through the
room he tried to get near the general.
He managed to do so, and with the back
Of his hand he cautiously knocked
against the pocket of the generals coat
which he suspected contained the slip
per. There was nothing therel He tried
to sound the other pocket, but slight
move on the generals part carried him
out of reach. To touch it, it was neces-
sary to pass around on the side where it
was.
Where In the world are you taking
mes" demanded the lady on his arm.
"Why-er-to the head Of the room,"
and as he was now on the right side of
the general he wanted to try the other
pocket. Here was q new obstacle that
he had not foreseen. The fact that the
lady had the arm nearest the general
made any attempt at exploration impos-
sible. He offered the other on the pre-
text of an old wound which was paining
him and was able at last to repeat his
former tactics. This time he was salts
fed. ats there~ he murmured, and he
did not enjoy the reflection that the hus-
band of his adored one had discovered
his maneuvers under the table.
"Well, I'm in pretty mess" he con-
cluded.
Everybody had crowded into the room,
there was an expectant hush, and all
were on tiptoe for the promised trick.
There was no way to retreat.
Here goes" said the imprudent lover.
'T must take the plunge. come what
may" And dhe hah ahSld, have lost my slip
per. have not got it concealed about
my person; my pockets are empty"-he
turned them inside out-''nor is it IN my
coat"-he held it open-''nor in my waist
coat"-he unbuttoned it--'4nor In my
sleeves"-and he turned them up to his
elbows. "You see, ladies, have moth
ing in my hands or my pockets. I Unjust
find out, then, where the lost article is.
Nothing is more simple. I have only to
make a slight cabalistic calculation"
With this he covered his face with his
hands and assumed an attitude of pro-
found cogitation. Then, without re-
moving his hands, he counted: Zone,
two, three, four, five. My slipper" he
cried, sis in the left pocket of the sixth
person to my right"
This person was the general.
mot badr' the latter exclaimed un-
der his breath, and in obedience to the
universal cries Of Search yourself,
search yourself. general" he drew the
slipper from the pocket indicated.
A storm Of applause was evoked by the
brilliant success of the trick. Then, aft
or much whispering, several voices
cried, "Oh, the general is his confeder-
ate." r -
Eyes, yes" came q chorus OF voices;
"hss q confederate"
The conjuser protested.
"Do it again, them" some one demand
ed. end everybody took up the cry: eyes,
vani no.it auai1,tn
"oh," said lady, "the general has
just been whispering to M. Latournelle."
And the cry went up again that he was
. confederate.
The general affirmed that he was in no
sense furthering the conjurer's devices.
"But You were just now whispering
with him." insisted the witnesses of the
conference.
1.-The exact truth is this, ladies: You
asked the coajurer to repeat his per-
formance. I just this moment told him
that 1t was one Of those tricks that should
not be tried second time. Did not.
sirY said the general significantly.
Precisely, general, and ! shall fol-
low your advice" replied Latournelle.
''Itshan not be repeated"
And it never was.-Translated For Ar
gonaut From the French Of Jules MOI
naux by L. S. Vassault. 1000