“Oh! well! lots o’ things!—You mean to say that you can’t guess ’em?”
“Yes, indeed; and first of all I am going to magnetize you.”
“All right, I’m willing; will it cost me much?”
“I charge nothing for that.”
“If that’s so, then you must be a sorcerer sure enough, if you do your business without having your hand greased!”
My little hunchback seated the peasant in a great easy-chair, then touched him several times with the magic wand; but the clown let him keep on, and seemed to be not in the slightest degree under the charm. Thereupon my companion began to pass his fingers very lightly over his eyes, in order to communicate the magnetic fluid to him. The peasant said nothing, but contented himself with turning his chair from time to time and rubbing his eyes. I felt a strong desire to laugh when I saw the pains that my poor comrade was taking, perspiring profusely in his efforts to magnetize Eustache Nicole.
At last the peasant seemed quieter; he ceased to move and rub his eyes.
“The charm is working,” said Master Graograicus in an undertone, as he continued his labors; “this fellow has given me a lot of trouble! but I have succeeded at last! As you see, he is entering the somnambulistic state; before long he will speak.”
But, instead of speaking, the peasant, who had really fallen asleep, gave passage to so prolonged a sound that the most dauntless magnetizer would not have had the courage to continue. My hunchback jumped back, holding his nose. I roared with laughter and the whole audience followed suit.
That sudden noise awoke our peasant; he rose and asked if the experiment was at an end.