> Questions inundate my mind: was it real?

No.

> Did Mme Abgrall cure the warts?

No, that was your daughter’s immune system.

Gaffa tape works wonders, especially on verrucas.

Genuinely. It's like magic.

I assume you meant Gaffer tape?

It is used interchangeably here in the UK - most tradespeople or theatre folk say is as gaffa, as in boss.