, and a
strange uneasy laugh. As his excitement subsided, her agitation broke
out. I saw the flush again on her face, and the fiery brightness in her
eyes. Once, when his attention was engaged, she stole a look at the door
by which Gloody had left the room. Did this indicate another of the
mysteries which, by her own confession, she had in preparation for me? My
late experience had not inclined me favorably towards mysteries. I
devoted my whole attention to the Conjurer.

Whether he chose the easiest examples of skill in sleight of hand is more
than I know. I can only say that I never was more completely mystified by
any professor of legerdemain on the public platform. After the
performance of each trick, he asked leave to time himself by looking at
his watch; being anxious to discover if he had lost his customary
quickness of execution through recent neglect of the necessary practice.

Of Cristel's conduct, while he was amusing us, I can only say that it
justified Mrs. Roylake's spiteful description of her as a bold girl. The
more cleverly the tricks were performed, the more they seemed to annoy
and provoke her.

"I hate being puzzled!" she said, addressing herself of course to me.
"Yes, yes; his fingers are quicker than my eyes--I have heard that
explanation before. When he has done one of his tricks, I want to know
how he does it. Conjurers are people who ask riddles, and, when one can't
guess them, refuse to say what the answer is. It's as bad as calling me a
fool, to suppose that I like being deceived. Ah," she cried, with a
shocking insolence of look and manner, "if our friend could only hear
what I am saying!"

He had paused while she was speaking, observing her attentively. "Your
face doesn't encourage me," he said, with a patience and courtesy of
manner which it was impossible not to admire. "I am coming gradually to
my greatest triumph; and I think I can surprise and please you."

He timed his last trick, and returned to the table placed against the
wall.

"Excuse me for a moment," he resumed; "I am suffering as usual, after
drinking tea. I so delight in it that the temptation to-night was more
than I could resist. Tea disagrees with my weak stomach. It always
produces thirst."

"What nonsense he talks!" Cristel exclaimed. "All mere fancy! He reminds
me of the old song called 'The Nervous Man.' Do you know it, Mr.
Roylake?"

In spite of my efforts to prevent her, she burst out with the first verse
o