int
conceal(int var)
  CODE:
    SvREFCNT_inc((SV *) var);
    RETVAL = var;
  OUTPUT:
    RETVAL

SV *
reveal(char *str_or_addr)
  CODE:
    char *hex;
    int addr = (hex = rindex(str_or_addr, 'x')) ?
      strtol(++hex, NULL, 16) :
      atoi(str_or_addr);
    RETVAL = newRV((SV *) addr);
    SvREFCNT_dec((SV *) addr);
  OUTPUT:
    RETVAL

##</code><code>##

use Devel::Reference;

my $x = [1,2,3];
my $addr = Devel::Reference::conceal($x);

# the refcount of [1,2,3] is now 2

undef $x;

# the refcount of [1,2,3] is now 1

my $y = Devel::Reference::reveal($addr);

# the refcount of [1,2,3] REMAINS at 1

print "@$y\n";  # "1 2 3"