Chapter 19 audience

London, April 1886 An unprecedented group of magicians gathered in the theater hall, all wearing brand-new suits, and even the placement of silk handkerchiefs was extremely particular.Some carried great trunks and cloaks, others carried birdcages or silver canes.They didn't speak to each other, just waiting to be called in, one at a time, not by their names (whether real or stage names) but by the numbers on a little note they were given when they arrived.They didn't schmooze, gossip, or exchange little tricks of the trade, they just fidgeted about in their chairs, casting unassuming glances at the girls.

A few people mistook her for an assistant when they first arrived, but she also held a note with the number 23 and sat on a chair waiting. She had no suitcase, no cloak, no cage or walking stick.She was wearing a dark green dress and a black jacket with puffed sleeves that buttoned all the way to the bottom.A mass of brown curls, neatly clipped on her head, peeked out from under a small, feathered but rather inconspicuous black hat.There was something girlish about her face, as evidenced by the length of her eyelashes and her slightly pouty lips, though she was clearly too old to be called a girl.But her age was unpredictable, and no one dared to ask.In short, everyone else regarded her as a girl, and said so when they mentioned the experience afterwards.Despite those unabashed stares and the occasional stare, she paid no attention to anyone.

The magician's number was called out one by one by a man with a list and notebook.The man escorted them through a gilded door at the other end of the hall, and they returned one by one and left the theater.Some were only in the theater for a few minutes, others for a considerable amount of time.Those with higher numbers squirmed impatiently in their seats, hoping that the young man with the notebook would appear again and politely call the number on their note. The last conjurer to enter through the gilded doors (a stocky man in a gaudy cloak) was soon back in the hall, and looking quite agitated, he hurried out through the exit, letting the theater doors slam shut behind him.The voice was still echoing in the hall, and the young man with the notebook reappeared, nodded coldly toward the hall, and cleared his throat.

twenty-three.Marco looked at the numbers on the famous list and said. All eyes in the room turned to the girl, watching her get up and walk forward. Marco watched her approach, confused at first, but then the confusion was replaced by something else entirely. He could see she was beautiful from a distance, but when she got close enough to see his eyes clearly, the beauty of the shape of her face, the contrast of her hair against her complexion transformed into something else. She is so gorgeous.As they looked at each other, he couldn't think for a moment what he was supposed to do, or why she had handed him a note with the number twenty-three on it in his own hand.

This way, please.He finally came back to his senses, took her note, and pressed the door to let her pass.She nodded slightly in return.As the door closed completely behind them, the hall hummed with the whispers of the crowd. The interior of the theater is magnificent and gorgeous, with rows of red thick velvet seats.The band seats, the audience seats on the ground floor and the balcony seats spread like a large crimson from the empty stage layer by layer.Except for two people sitting about ten rows away from the stage, the arena was empty.Chandrash.Christopher.Lefevre sat there with his legs straddling the front seat.Anna.Madame Padwa sat to his right, yawning as she took her watch out of her handbag.

Marco came out from the side hall of the stage, followed by the girl in the green dress shuffling.He waved her to stand in the middle of the stage, and when he announced her appearance to the nearly empty theater, he still couldn't take his eyes off her. twenty-three.He said, then descended the short flight of steps from the front of the stage, lingering on the edge of the front seat, pen in an open notebook at the ready. Madame Padwa looked up, smiled, and stuffed the watch back into her handbag. How is this going?Chandrash said it didn't appear to be about anyone in particular.The girl didn't respond.

This is number twenty-three.Ma Ke repeated the explanation while checking the list to make sure the number was correct. We're casting for a magician, dear boy.Chandrish said the volume was quite loud, echoing through the cavernous space.Magicians, illusionists, whatever, we don't need pretty assistants this time. I am a magician, sir.said the girl, her voice calm and low.I'm here for the selection. I see.Chandrash frowned, and slowly looked at the girl carefully from head to toe.She stood still and patiently stood in the center of the stage, as if she had expected this reaction from the other party.

Is there anything wrong?Madame Padwa asked. I don't know if this is appropriate.said Chandrash, looking at the girl thoughtfully. And what do you say about that cartilaginous stuntman's big bounty? Chandrash paused, still looking at the girl on stage.She was reasonably elegant, but there was nothing special about her. That's another matter.It was hard for him to come up with such a reason. Indeed, Chandrash, said Madame Padwa: Let us at least see what she is capable of before arguing about the propriety of a female magician. But her wide sleeves can hide a lot of things.he protested.

Upon hearing this, the girl immediately took off her puff-sleeved jacket and threw it casually at her feet.Her green dress had no sleeves or straps, and her shoulders and arms were completely bare except for a choker with what appeared to be a silver photo-box pendant hanging from her neck.Then she took off her gloves again, throwing the same on top of the crumpled coat.Madam Padwa gave Chandrash a stern look, in return for a sigh. Well, said Chandrash: Let's go.He gestured vaguely to Marco. By order, sir.As Marco spoke, he turned and spoke to the girl.Before the actual performance, we had a few preliminary questions.Your name, miss?

Celia.Bowen. Marco wrote the name down in his notebook. Your stage name?he asks. I don't have a stage name.Celia said.Mark also took notes. Where did you perform professionally? I've never done acting professionally. After hearing this, Chandrash made gestures to interrupt them, but was stopped by Mrs. Padwa. Who do you learn art from?Marco asked. My father, Hector.Bowen.Celia replied.She paused, then added: He is better known as Prospero, Master of Magic. Marco slipped his pen. Magician Prospero?Chandrash moved his legs away from the chair in front of him and leaned forward, looking at Celia as if he were looking at someone else entirely.Is the master of magic Prospero your father?

Father, Celia explained.He passed away last year. I am sorry for you, child, said Madame Padwa: but who will tell me who is this magician Prospero? The greatest contemporary magician, Chandrash said: As long as his schedule can match, I will definitely hit his schedule. It has been many years ago.Brilliantly brilliant, audiences are obsessed with him.Never seen anyone who could match him, no. He'll be glad to hear that, sir.Celia said, her eyes hurriedly flicked to the dark curtain on the side of the stage. I've told him already, even though I haven't seen him for a long time.I got very drunk with him in a bar a few years ago, and he said a lot about pushing the limits of the theater, about innovating, and so on.He might like our idea of ​​a circus, too bad.He sighed heavily and shook his head.Ok, let's get started.As he spoke, he leaned back in his chair and looked at Celia with great interest. Marco held his pen firmly again and continued to ask questions. Can you perform without a stage? no problem.Celia says Can your magic be viewed from all angles? Celia smiled. You want a magician who can perform in a crowd?she asked Chandrash.He nodded. I see.Celia said.Then, with lightning speed, she picked up the jacket from the stage and threw it into the audience.It didn't fall, but flew upwards and folded automatically.In an instant, the folded silk coat turned into smooth black feathers, with huge flapping wings, and at some point, it turned into a complete black crow again, not just clothes.The black crow flew over the large red velvet seats, flew to the balcony of the box, and circled there. really brilliant.Madam Padwa said. She probably hid the bird in the wide sleeve of her dress.Chandrash murmured.On the stage, Celia walked towards Marco. Can I borrow it?she asked, pointing to his notebook.He hesitated before handing it to her.Thanks.She said and returned to the center of the stage. She didn't look at the neatly written list of questions in the notebook, and threw it into the air. It turned over, and the quivering page turned into a white dove with fluttering wings, soaring in circles in the theater.The crows on the balcony croaked at it. ha!Chandrash whispered, on the one hand at the white dove, but also because of Marco's expression. The white dove swooped back to Celia's side, and landed softly on her outstretched hand.She stroked its wings, then released it back into the air.It soared just a few feet above her head, and then the wings turned back to paper, and then fell quickly.Celia caught it with one hand, and gave it back to Marco, whose face became much paler. Thanks.Celia smiled.Marco nodded blankly, didn't look directly at her, and quickly retreated to the corner. It's amazing, it's amazing.Chandrash said.This works, very doable.As he spoke, he got up, walked down the aisle, stopped in front of the band seats next to the footlights of the stage, and began to pace and meditate. How to dress her is also a problem.Madame Padwa yelled at him from her seat.I've only considered formal suits before, but I thought a more formal gown would work too. What type of clothing do you want?Celia asked. We have to think about color matching, boy.Madam Padwa said.Or it should be said that there is nothing to consider, but it is just black and white.However, an all-black frock coat might look a little like mourning on you. I see.Celia said. Mrs. Padwa got up, went down the aisle, and walked towards Chandrash who was pacing.She whispered a few words in his ear, and he turned his head to discuss with her, looking away from Celia for a moment. No one looked at her except Marco, and she stood motionless on the stage, waiting patiently.Then, very slowly, her clothes changed. Starting from the neckline, like ink penetrating down, the green silk gradually turned into a dark dark black. Marco exclaimed.Chandrash and Mrs. Padwa turned their heads in response, and in time saw the thick black of the skirt fade to bright white, until the whole dress could no longer see a trace of green. This made it easier for me.Mrs. Padwa said, unable to hide the joy in her eyes.But I think your hair color is a little lighter. Celia flicked her head, and her curly brown hair turned into a color close to black, as black and shiny as the wings of the crow. wonderful.Chandrash said, as if talking to himself. Celia just smiled. Chandrash jumped up from the short stairway in front of the stage in three steps and two steps, and he checked Celia's long skirt from all angles. May I?he asked, touching the fabric of his skirt cautiously.Celia nodded.The silk was undoubtedly black and white, with soft shades of gray in between, and the interwoven fibers of the fabric were clearly visible. What happened to your father, if you don't mind me asking?Chandrash said the focus was still on her dress. I don't mind, Celia said: one of his tricks didn't go exactly as he planned. What a pity.He said backing away.Miss Bowen, are you interested in accepting a special job offer? With a flick of his finger, Marco immediately approached with the note, and stopped a few steps away from Celia. His eyes moved from her long skirt to her hair and back, and lingered for a long time . Before she could answer, a crow came across the entire theater.It turned out to be the black crow still perched on the balcony, curiously watching the good show in front of it. Wait a moment.Celia said.She raised her hand and made a skillful gesture towards Crow.Responding to her movement, it uttered another cry, spread its huge wings in a leap, and flew back to the stage in a circle, accelerating as it approached.It swooped down quickly and flew directly towards Celia. When it reached the stage, it didn't waver or slow down at all, but sprinted with all its strength.Chandrash jumped back in fright, nearly tripping over Marco, but the crow bumped into Celia and turned into a plume of feathers. Then it disappeared, not a single feather remained.Outside the black and white dress, Celia once again wore a black jacket with puff sleeves that was fully buttoned up. In front of the band booth, Mrs. Padwa clapped. Celia bowed back and took the opportunity to pick up the gloves on the ground. She was wonderful, said Chandrash, pulling a cigar from his pocket.Excellent. Yes, sir.Marco responded behind him, the notebook in his hand trembling slightly. The magicians waiting in the hall murmured as they were thanked for taking the time and politely dismissed.