“You will not go, I feel certain, if I forbid it. But tell me, why are you in such a hurry to leave?”
“After what I saw yesterday I don’t wish to stay in Algiers; a misfortune would happen to me.”
“Did you regard the miracles as real?”
The Kabyle surveyed the marshal with an air of astonishment, and, without replying directly to the question addressed him, said:
“Instead of killing your soldiers in conquering the Kabyles, send your French Marabout to the most rebel tribes, and before a fortnight he will bring them all to you.”
The Kabyle did not leave, for the interpreters managed to remove his fears; still he was one of those who kept furthest aloof from me during the ceremony I have described.
Another Arab also said, on leaving one of my performances:
“Our Marabouts must now do very great miracles to astonish us.”
These statements from the governor’s own lips were very agreeable to me, for up to that moment I had felt rather uneasy; and although I was certain I had produced a startling impression by my performances, I was enchanted at learning that the object of my mission had been carried out according to the wishes of government. In addition, before I started for France, the marshal was kind enough to assure me once again that my performances in Algeria had produced the happiest effect in the minds of the natives.
Although my performances were ended, I was in no hurry to return to France. I was curious, in my turn, to witness a conjuring performance of the Marabouts, or other native jugglers. I had also promised several Arab chiefs to visit them in their douars, and I wished to enjoy this double pleasure.