roughout, but, by putting on a travelling
dress of the simplest construction, becomes
invisible, performs enormous journeys in half a
minute, and passes from visibility to
invisibility with an expedition so astonishing
that no eye can follow its transformations.

*** _The Necromancer's attendant usually faints
on beholding this wonder, and is only to be
revived by the administration of brandy and
water._

THE PUDDING WONDER.

The company having agreed among themselves to
offer to the Necromancer, by way of loan, the
hat of any gentleman whose head has arrived at
maturity of size, the Necromancer, without
removing that hat for an instant from before
the eyes of the delighted company, will light a
fire in it, make a plum pudding in his magic
saucepan, boil it over the said fire, produce
it in two minutes, thoroughly done, cut it, and
dispense it in portions to the whole company,
for their consumption then and there; returning
the hat at last, wholly uninjured by fire, to
its lawful owner.

*** _The extreme liberality of this wonder
awakening the jealousy of the beneficent
Austrian Government, when exhibited in Milan,
the Necromancer had the honour to be seized,
and confined for five years in the fortress of
that city._

[194] Dick died at Gadshill in 1866, in the sixteenth year of his age,
and was honoured with a small tomb and epitaph.

[195] I cannot take leave of M. Beaucourt without saying that I am
necessarily silent as to the most touching traits recorded of him by
Dickens, because they refer to the generosity shown by him to an English
family in occupation of another of his houses, in connection with whom
his losses must have been considerable, but for whom he had nothing but
help and sympathy. Replying to some questions about them, put by Dickens
one day, he had only enlarged on their sacrifices and self-denials. "Ah
that family, unfortunate! 'And you, Monsieur Beaucourt,' I said to him,
'you are unfortunate too, God knows!' Upon which he said in the
pleasantest way in the world, Ah, Monsieur Dickens, thank you, don't
speak of it!--And backed himself down the avenue with his cap in his
hand, as if he were going to back himself straight into the evening
star, wit