“William soon proceeded to the orange-tree, and though much astonished at the orders given him, he began to carry them out. {145}
“He carefully removed one of the sides of the chest, thrust his hand in, and almost touched the roots of the tree before he found anything. All at once he uttered a cry of surprise, as he drew out a small iron coffer eaten by rust.
“This curious ‘find,’ after having been cleansed of the mould, was brought in and placed on a small ottoman by the king’s side.
“ ‘Well, Monsieur Robert-Houdin,’ Louis Philippe said to me, with a movement of impatient curiosity, ‘here is a box; am I to conclude it contains the handkerchiefs?’
“ ‘Yes, sire,’ I replied, with assurance, ‘and they have been there, too, for a long period.’
“ ‘How can that be? the handkerchiefs were lent you scarce a quarter of an hour ago.’
“ ‘I cannot deny it, sire; but what would my magic powers avail me if I could not perform incomprehensible tricks? Your Majesty will doubtless be still more surprised, when I prove to your satisfaction that this coffer, as well as its contents, was deposited in the chest of the orange-tree sixty years ago.’
“ ‘I should like to believe your statement,’ the King replied, with a smile; ‘but that is impossible, and I must, therefore, ask for proofs of your assertion.’
“ ‘If Your Majesty will be kind enough to open this casket they will be supplied.’
“ ‘Certainly; but I shall require a key for that.’