c light
in the Cave just touched a gorgeous ruby which she wore in her hair.
This he knew at once was the same which Mr. Mitchel had shown to him,
and which Lucette told him had been presented to his _fiancee_.

Scheherezade began to recite the story of Sindbad, a monologue for the
evening having been prepared which told in a few words enough to explain
the sequence of the tableaux. Her voice was musical, and her reading
admirable, so that very soon there was a silence as of death save as it
was broken by her words. As she reached various parts of her tale, she
would clap her hands, and at once others entered the scene, grouping
themselves to form new pictures. Thus Sindbad was followed along his
various travels, till at the end the curtains were dropped for a moment,
to be parted again, showing all who had taken a character. Then followed
a pretty ceremonial. Sindbad passed out of the Cave room and approached
the Sultan and Scheherezade. Reaching them he stopped, made a salaam,
bowing low with his arms upraised in front of him, and then passing on,
taking a place in the room and so becoming a part of the audience for
the succeeding pictures. Each of the characters followed his example,
until all had passed out, when the next set of tableaux was at once
quickly arranged. Again Scheherezade renewed her recitation.

Thus fable after fable was told and acted, the audience in the Palace
room growing larger, after each, so that soon well-managed pictures
received generous applause.

At last the committee announced that the fable of Ali Baba and the Forty
Thieves would be the next on the program. The parts to be acted by each
were quickly explained, and all was ready. As the Forty Thieves were
practically like supernumeraries in a spectacular play, Mr. Barnes
thought that he could take any position which he should choose and so
stood through all the scenes as near to Ali Baba as possible. At last
the recitation was ended, and the signal given for them to form a line
to do obeisance to the Sultan. Mr. Barnes attempted to stand immediately
behind Ali Baba, and was surprised to find two other men try for the
same place coincidently. There was a moment of confusion, and then Mr.
Barnes found himself in line just between the two other aspirants for
second place behind the leader.

That what next occurred may be thoroughly understood, it will be well to
call accurate attention to the position of the various actors. The
Palace r