Free The Man Who Was Magic by Paul Gallico

the floor: “I move that Adam the Simple be admitted to the finals. And if Malvolio here had not destroyed the egg, I should have recommended depositing it in our Museum.”
    There were more cheers and applause at this, and even the Judges, with the exception of Malvolio, joined in.
    Now The Great Robert also rose to his feet, smooth and easy as ever, a friendly, genial smile upon his public countenance. In spite of his dislike and fear of Malvolio, he had been dying for Adam to accept the challenge, to see whether he could repeat the trick. But with the violent reaction of Professor Alexander, he had swiftly changed and now already other plans were beginning to form in his mind. “Adam the Simple, come forward!”
    Adam did so, removing his cap respectfully.
    Mopsy said, “Try not to laugh.”
    Adam hissed, “Hush, you naughty little beast!”
    The Great Robert orated in his best manner, “Adam the Simple, we welcome you to Mageia. You have passed your test and I have great pleasure in admitting you to the final trials for membership in our great Guild, tomorrow night. Fussmer, are you taking all that down?”
    “Yes, sir.”
    “Thank you, Your Worship,” Adam said and then added, “And please, may Jane continue to be my assistant?”
    The Great Robert pretended to reflect upon this, but he was delighted. For Adam thus was playing directly into his hands with the scheme forming in his head: how he might be able to find out for himself the secret of Adam’s sensational trick. Eventually he agreed. “Why yes, since she’s already done so well. I shall be very pleased. I should like at this time also to extend an invitation to come and stay with us in our happy home while you are in Mageia. My wife and I would be delighted to have you under our humble roof.”
    Adam heard Mopsy mutter, “I wouldn’t trust the old buzzard. He’s got something up his sleeve besides his arm. Can’t we go to a hotel?”
    “Mopsy, you’re impossible!”
    “I beg your pardon?” said Robert.
    “My dog was wondering whether he might be allowed to come too?”
    “But of course. We should be honored to have such a clever animal in our midst, particularly since our dear Jane seems to have taken to him so.”
    Now during this exchange with all eyes upon Adam and the Chief Magician, no one was aware that Malvolio had leaned over to Mephisto and whispered in his ear. “Don’t say anything now, but there’s something rotten going on here. We may all be in terrible danger. Meet me in the basement after the tests. Tell Hamid, Zerbo and Fussmer and anyone else who wants to come. But whatever you do, don’t let on to that old fool Robert.” To this Mephisto had nodded his assent imperceptibly.
    The Chief Magician was saying, “Well then, let’s get on. What is there left on the program?”
    “Only one more, your honor,” Fussmer replied, and called off a name.
    It turned out to be a young magician who produced a neat and simple routine with cards. But the truth was that everyone was still so overwhelmed at what had happened and relieved at the resolution of their secret fear, that he was quickly passed into the finals and the affair broke up with sandwiches and cold drinks being served. The candidates, as well as several members of the Council and guests, crowded around congratulating Adam and Jane, who was carrying Mopsy in her arms.
    There was intense excitement throughout the gathering, now that their minds had been relieved of that sudden unacknowledged dread that what they had seen might have been something quite other than it appeared, and already little knots and groups were forming, discussing Adam’s turn and how it might have been done.
    For while the majority of the magicians of Mageia were highly honorable and upright men who would not have dreamed of stealing a routine from a colleague or neighbor, it was perfectly legitimate if they managed to find out on their own the secret, or otherwise to duplicate it. It was then