“They don’t like the idea of bringing an outsider into the act. Can’t say I do either,” he said. “I’ve been thinking about it all night and I am not at all happy about this idea. I can’t see how it’s going to work. In fact, it’s a stupid idea.”
“Just give it a try, Harry,” Bess said, grasping at his hand. “You promised, Harry. You’d promised you’d give it a try. That’s all I’m asking.” She gazed up at him. “Let’s teach her the basic things and if she can’t do it, then fine. You’ll have to go on solo.”
He nodded. “Right, let’s get to work then. The first thing you have to learn is how to move. Have you noticed how the girls move onstage—everything is big and dramatic. They walk like this—” and he crossed the room in long slinky strides. “And always the arm gestures. Light and airy and graceful.” He demonstrated those. “And draw the audience’s attention to yourself and your shape.” He ran his hand gracefully tracing the shape of a supposed female body. It was rather funny to watch this little man pretending to be an alluring female, but I didn’t smile.
“Now you do it.”
I felt horribly embarrassed as I strutted across the bedroom, gestured to Houdini, drew attention to my own costume. It wasn’t until I saw him grinning that I realized how awful I must look.
“Well it’s quite obvious you’ve never done this before, isn’t it? You were never a dancer or acrobat, I take it?”
“No, I wasn’t.”
“That’s pretty obvious. Pity. Most illusionists’ assistants can do all the acrobatic moves. The odd cartwheel or split never hurts. But there’s nothing we can do about that.”
“Teach her the signals, Harry,” Bess said. “That’s the most important thing she needs to know.”
“Signals?” I asked.
Harry paced uncertainly. “I’m not sure about this, honeykins. Giving away our secrets to a stranger—to someone we hardly know?”
“I told you, I knew her family when she was a little kid,” Bess said. “They were good to me.” She certainly lied very smoothly. There was no trace of hesitancy in her voice.
“Yes, but that was a long time ago. You’re out of touch for years, then she pops up again, out of the blue, she doesn’t have an inkling about how to move onstage, and suddenly she wants to be my assistant.” He was staring hard at me. “I don’t believe she ever had anything to do with the business, if you want my opinion. So how do we know she’s not some kind of plant?”
“What do you mean?” Bess demanded.
“I mean how do we know she’s not working for a rival illusionist trying to get his hands on our secrets?”
“She’s not working for any rival illusionist, Harry, I promise you.”
“How can you promise me? You’ve been out of touch with her for years!” Harry was yelling now, his face red with anger. “And if she’s not working for a rival, how do we know she’s not one of these damned female newspaper reporters. If we show her our stunts you might find them printed all over tomorrow’s front page for all the world to see. ‘How I out-tricked Houdini into revealing his secrets.’ Is that what you want, Bess?”
“I assure you I’m not—” I began, but he cut me off.
“I’m not buying it, Bess. I’m not giving away things we’ve worked on for years.”
“But you promised to give her a try, Harry. You promised.” She was sounding close to tears now.
“I said that yesterday because I didn’t want you making a scene at the clinic, but it never felt right to me. And you know what? It doesn’t feel right now. I don’t trust her. I’m not doing it, Bess. I’ve made up my mind and that’s that.”
“And if I don’t come back into the act for a while?” Bess’s voice was yelling too now.
“Then I’d rather go it alone. Or maybe I’ll find a new assistant.”
“Oh, no!” Bess said, sitting bolt upright. “I’m not having you working with a strange girl, Harry. I know what you’re like.”
“Honey, babykins, how can you say that?”
She wagged a finger at him. “I’ve seen those showgirls try to get their claws into you. I’ve seen them try to lure you to their dressing rooms, and invite you out for a bite to eat when I’ve been under the weather. Don’t think I’m completely blind, Ehrich Weiss, because I know.”