With admirable calm, the visitor exhaled a puff of smoke.
— Conjurer tricks, which can be explained perfectly! he nodded coldly.
— Possible ! retorted the Countess; I know your sagacity and I do not argue. But, she added, while her face contorted with horror, now I have to reveal to you the mystery which surrounds this automaton.
She leaned towards her host and continued in a moved voice:
— In each family where this automaton has been exhibited, a misfortune has happened. I have carefully followed the course of events; at the count's, von Zeck the eldest son died unexpectedly; with the Podinskys it was the master of the house himself; at Baron von Lehefeld's a faithful old servant has breathed his last... what do you say?