After making a majestic bow to his audience, the celebrated conjurer walked silently and with measured steps up to the famous copper ball. After convincing himself it was solidly hung, he took up his wand, which he wiped with a white handkerchief, as if to remove any foreign influence; then, with imperturbable gravity, he struck the ball thrice with it, pronouncing, amid the most solemn silence, this imperious sentence: _Spiriti miei infernali, obedite_.
I, like a simpleton, scarce breathed in my expectation of some miraculous result, but it was only an innocent pleasantry, a simple introduction to the performance with the cups. I was, I confess, rather disappointed, for, in my opinion, this performance was only suited for the public streets, and I did not expect any one would venture it on a Paris stage in 1838. I was justified in this view, as two persons, Miette and Lesprit, might be daily seen going through this performance in the streets. Still, I must say that Bosco displayed great skill, and was heartily applauded by the public.
"Well," Antonio's neighbor said, victoriously, "was I not right--is he not remarkably clever? But you'll see, that's nothing as yet."
Either Antonio was in a bad temper, or the performance did not please him, for he could not "plant" the admiration he had been quite prepared to bestow. In fact, he became most impatient when Bosco commenced the "pigeon trick." Still, it must be allowed that the _mise en scène_ and the execution were of a nature to irritate nerves even less sensitive than my friend's.
A servant placed on small tables on either side the stage two small blocks of black wood, on each of which a death's-head was painted. They were the blocks for the culprits. Bosco then came forward, holding a knife in one hand and a black pigeon in the other.
"Here is a pizon" (I forgot to state that Bosco spoke with a strong Italian accent) "zat has behaved badly. I am going to cut off his head; zall it be, ladies, wiz blood or wizout?" (This was one of his strong points.)
Some people laughed, but the ladies hesitated to reply to this strange question.
"Without blood," a spectator said. Bosco then placed the pigeon's head on the block and cut it off, being careful to press the neck, and prevent the effusion of blood.