The Illusionist Page #4

And now you have.

Yes, now I have.

I look forward to seeing you

again at the Hofburg.

Until then.

Here's the report

on Duchess von Teschen.

Mmm. Anything interesting?

See for yourself.

The magician?

They drove around for half an hour.

Then he got out near the theater.

What do you want us to do?

Join us for a drink?

Please.

You like something to eat,

something to drink, hmm?

- No, thank you.

- Herr Eisenheim...

I'm going to ask you a question...

that may not seem friendly...

but I assure you, in fact, is.

What is your relationship

with the Duchess von Teschen?

You're right,

that doesn't seem friendly.

Oh, but that is precisely my point.

For, you see,

where others might judge...

a discreet carriage ride

for what it seemed to be...

I am willing to find out

what it actually was.

All right. We were

childhood acquaintances.

Acquaintances?

Childhood friends.

My father was a cabinetmaker.

He made the furniture for her family's house.

I see, the cabinetmaker's son

friends with a-

- Has there been a complaint?

- Oh, no, no. If there'd been a complaint...

well, we'd be having a very, uh,

different sort of conversation.

Yes. He relies on you for

that sort of thing, does he?

I'm a simple public servant,

Herr Eisenheim.

That's not what I hear.

I hear you'll be

the chief of police very soon.

- Maybe mayor of Vienna? Party secretary?

- All subject to his whim.

You better hope he doesn't dissolve

the parliament before you get there.

Now the prince has some progressive ideas,

but he will make a fine emperor.

Well, they say you're very close to him,

so I'm sure you'll do fine.

Look. Yes, indeed, they say

that I'm very close to the prince.

But the simple truth of the matter is,

Herr Eisenheim, I'm the son of a butcher.

He's the heir to the empire.

How close could we be to such as him?

Hmm? Do you see my point?

Don't fool yourself that

you can play in their game.

I've served on the edge of it...

for... many, many years...

and I can tell you with certainty...

there's no trick they haven't seen.

It's not worth it.

My guest tonight...

is not a showman at all,

but rather a wizard...

who has sold his soul

to the devil...

in return for unholy powers.

Or so at least some of our friends here

would have us believe.

But fear not.

Everything can

and will be explained.

- All mysteries penetrated.

- Hear! Hear!

Well said! Well said!

- Is that the emperor?

- Ah, yes, your father.

I didn't think he was invited.

Bravo.

A fair likeness of the old man.

Too modern a style for him, of course.

I'm afraid I'm not much

of a painter.

It's true. There are no brushstrokes

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