The exhibitions of clairvoyance have often been likened by sceptics to the tricks of conjurors. The best reply to any such supposition is furnished by the result of two seances given by Alexis to M. Robert Houdin, the most celebrated prestidigitator of the day, who went accompanied by the Marquis de Mirville.* M Houdin expressed his astonishment at the result, and certified in writing that what he then witnessed bore no reference to his art. " I cannot help declaring,'* he said, " that the facts here reported are perfectly exact, and that the more I reflect upon them the more impossible do I find it to class them with those which constitute the object of my art." (May 10, 1849.)
"At the second seance I witnessed still more surprising events than at the first, and they no longer leave any doubt in my mind respecting the lucidity of Alexis. I tear off the envelope of a pack of cards I brought with me. I shuffle and deal with every precaution which, however is useless, for Alexis stopped me by naming a card which I had just placed before him upon the table. 'I have the king/ said he. But you know nothing about it, as the trump card is not turned up/ * You will see/ he replied ; * go on.' In fact, I turned up the eight of spades, and his card was the king of spades. The game was continued ; he told me the cards which I should play, though my cards were held closely in my hands beneath the table. To each of the cards which I played he followed suit, without turning up his cards, which were always perfectly in accordance with those I led. I therefore returned, from this seance as astonished as one can be, and I am convinced that it is quite impossible that chance, or any superior skill, could produce such wonderful results.' (May 16.)
