The Illusionist Page #4

I found this small gemstone.

Seen last Thursday at 7:30 p.m.,

riding without an escort...

toward the Imperial Hunting Lodge.

Groomsman said

she arrived about 8:30.

What was she doing riding alone?

He did this.

You know he did.

- I know who did what?

- The crown prince!

He killed her. He's done it

before, and you know it.

No, I don't know that. In fact,

I'm sure he didn't. He's in Budapest.

- He killed her before he left!

- I'm afraid the facts don't support your theory.

- She was leaving him.

- For who? You?

- Yes!

- Don't be absurd, Herr Eisenheim.

He killed her because

he couldn't let her go.

- She knew his secret.

- What secret?

- Ask your inspector. He knows-

- Stop this right now!

Are you completely corrupt?

No, not completely. No.

Which is why I'll advise you not to accuse

anyone, especially His Imperial Highness.

Or you will end up in jail yourself.

- Where's the guard who let her out of the gate?

- Gone with the crown prince.

- Did any of the servants see her leave?

- All asleep.

Ah-ha.

What about him?

He, uh, he put her horse

in the first stall when she arrived.

Ah.

Was it this one?

We don't have jurisdiction

on Imperial property.

Thank you.

I know.

So what are you doing?

Investigating.

Listening to that magician, are you?

For all we know, he did it.

No, I think not.

The crown prince is back.

Chief Inspector.

We should go. Now.

What have you found out?

- She was last seen riding here, alone.

- Yes.

And based on your information,

I then threw her out.

- Did she commit suicide?

- No. It was surely murder.

- Do you have a suspect?

- We will soon, Your Highness.

Later that week, we

arrested a man and charged him with murder...

but I knew that

that wouldn't satisfy Eisenheim.

I had my men continue to watch him.

He finally emerged from his grief

and bought a rundown theater.

It's perfect.

He fired his manager...

and began preparing

for a new kind of show.

Who is he?

My name is Frankel.

- Where did you come from?

- I come from Brunn.

My father is a lens grinder there.

How have you come

to be here tonight?

- I don't know.

- Are you alive?

What can you tell us

about the other side?

- What's it like?

- Yes, tell us.

You must know things. Secret things.

Say something spiritual.

They don't seem

to think it's a trick.

Eisenheim.! Come out and talk to us!

Eisenheim's audience

had always been enthusiastic...

but now he was attracting a more...

impassioned following.

Madame. Please?

With these spirits,

these manifestations...

With these spirits,

these manifestations...

Eisenheim has given us hard proof...

of the soul's immortality.

The spirit has been reaffirmed...

in the face of modern,

scientific materialism.

The work of spiritualism

will rouse humanity...

to a new, moral earnestness.

"It is a revolutionary movement,

and we will turn the empire...

into a spiritual republic."

Do you think Eisenheim's behind all this?

Why must I be bothered

with a magician?

He is proving to be more

than a magician, Your Highness.

He is a charlatan.

He's a faker.

He pretends to have

supernatural powers-

Put him on trial for fraud.

- First, we have to show it is fraud.

- Then do it.

Find out how the trick is done,

and then arrest him.

This is just a rough demonstration,

Inspector.

But you can see how it could work.

Yes, I see.

Not bad, not bad.

We need a spy in Eisenheim's troupe.

- Those Orientals, they won't give us anything.

- Mm.

- I already tried.

- Yeah. Then try something else.

What has happened here?

One of those ghosts from

the theater down the street.

- Yes. Up there.

- Where?

- There.

- Right there. And it's a boy.

- Yes. Look, look.

- Sick!

- Where is this thing?

- Right there.

- Over there.

- Uh-huh. Did you see it?

Mm!

God. An apparition. I saw it. I swear.

- Yes!

- Right over there.

Where are you taking him?

I want to know how it's done.

First the orange tree, now this.

Do I have to share all my professional

secrets with the police?

Well, in this case, yes,

or I'll be forced to arrest you.

- On what charge?

- Oh, well, we'll start with fraud.

- Excuse me, Chief Inspector-

- What?

I think you should look

outside the window.

- Who are they?

- They are here for him.

Oh!

My goodness, you have

a devoted following.

- What is it they expect of you?

- I have no idea.

What do your spies tell you?

That you plan to subvert

the monarchy, perhaps.

Why? Just because

the crown prince is a murderer?

He's not a murderer.

We have the real murderer in prison.

- He pleaded guilty.

- You've got the wrong man.

- You don't know that.

- No, but you do.

Hmm.

Herr Eisenheim, you will

also go to prison...

if you don't explain to me

what it is you are doing.

- Let him go!

- Or we will!

The sentence will be greater

if that mob attacks the building.

Eisenheim.! Eisenheim.! Eisenheim.!

Well?

What are you doing?

Stop!

- Stop!

- Eisenheim.!

There he is!

Listen to me, please!

You must listen to me, please!

Thank you all for coming. I have been

speaking with the chief inspector.

And I think there's been

a serious misunderstanding.

I want you all to know...

that everything that you have seen

in my theater is an illusion.

It's a trick.

It's not real.

I can't bring loved ones

back from the grave.

I can't receive messages

from the other side.

I apologize if I've given

you any false hope.

My intention has only been

to entertain, nothing more.

Now I appreciate your support.

But you must go home.

Please, you must go.

There, now. I've explained it,

so it can't be fraud.

May I go?

Has he tricked you?

Is that it?

No, Your Highness.

Then why are you failing me?

I thought I could trust you.

I thought you were a man I could bring

with me when I took the throne.

- Am I wrong about you?

- No. You're not wrong, Your Highness, no.

I need men who can complete

the tasks assigned to them!

Instead, I'm surrounded by fools.

In the end, I must

do everything myself.

- I can see this case will be no different.

- Mm.

- How do I look?

- Ordinary, Your Highness.

Very ordinary.

I think I'm going to enjoy this.

- They don't recognize you.

- Good.

And keep your distance. I don't want

to be seen with a policeman.

Who are you?

Are you Duchess von Teschen?

Yes.

What's happened to you?

She was murdered.

Were you murdered?

By who?

Did they arrest the right man?

Tell us, please. Who murdered you?

- Tell us.

- Someone. Here.

Tell us, and point him out.

Was it the crown prince?

He's killed a woman before!

Hey! The crown prince isn't even here.

The crown prince

killed her! Something must be done!

Chief Inspector, are you sure

you have the right man?

- Quite sure. Excuse me.

- Did you investigate the crown prince?

He cannot continue if this is true.

- He must be brought to justice.

- It's not true.

The magic trick is not evidence.

What is your name?

- I don't see how that matters.

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