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<SPAN name="XIV"> &nbsp;</SPAN> <p class="chapter"> CHAPTER XIV.</p> <p class="head"> THE MAGIC CHAIR.</p> <p>There, on the plateau, or platform, we had seen, stood, in naked mystery, the Enchanted Chair.</p> <p>''Tis the weird chair of the Viewless Maiden, the place of Her who is no more seen,' said Jambres. 'Who shall sit therein?'</p> <p>'The writing said,' remarked the dauntless Leonora, 'that a descendant of Theodolit&#234; must achieve this adventure. I am ready.'</p> <p>'Nay, not so, maiden,' murmured Jambres, 'try it not till I have made experience thereof. Me it cannot harm; in me you see the original inventor; beware of spurious imitations. But it is a dread experience; let me work it first!'</p> <p>Leonora could not resist his winning manner and concern for her safety.</p> <p>'I move,' she said, 'that Mr. Jambres do take the chair at this meeting.'</p> <p>'I second that proposal,' said I, and there was not a dissentient voice.</p> <p>'Mr. Jambres will now take the chair,' said Leonora, and the wizard, his swathing robes bulging with Leonora's securities, glided forward.</p> <p>Then an awful thing occurred. No sooner had Jambres sat down than Leonora and I found ourselves&#8212;how can we expect it to be believed?&#8212;gazing on a blank, bare space!</p> <p>The chair was still there, but the wizard was gone. Leonora turned to me, horror in her eyes, her golden curls changed to a pale German silver.</p> <p>'It is the chair of the Vanishing Lady,' she said.</p> <p>'It is the Confidence Trick,' I cried; and we both lost consciousness as the true state of the case flashed on our minds. The wizard was off with 300,000<i>l. </i> in high-class American securities.</p> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />