ho and what is he? Did you bring him here, and if
so why?"

"I am acquainted with the gentleman, Duchess," I admitted, "but he did
not come with me. I can tell you, however, that now he is here he can be
made very useful in entertaining your guests--he is a conjurer of very
remarkable powers, and I've no doubt whatever but that he would be only
too happy to exercise them for the amusement of the company."

"That is a different matter," said the Duchess, evidently somewhat
mollified. "You may introduce me."

I went to fetch Shin Shira, and had soon performed the necessary
ceremony.

"The Duchess would be very much obliged if you would perform some
conjuring tricks, as I know you will do with pleasure," I whispered.

"Delighted, I'm sure," replied the little Yellow Dwarf; "that is one
thing which I flatter myself I can do very well, owing to my fairy
powers," and so it was arranged that he was to begin immediately.

I cannot possibly tell you of all the wonderful things he showed us. He
made flowers grow straight up from the carpet, and turned a gentleman's
walking-stick into a kind of Christmas-tree, upon which hung a little
present for every child in the room: a fan for each of the ladies, and a
suitable gift for each of the gentlemen.

This was a most popular trick, it is needless to say, and the numerous
ladies and gentlemen who had by this time joined the party were as
delighted as were the children themselves.

Shin Shira had become quite a centre of attraction, and the Duchess
smiled at me approvingly.

"Your friend is a great acquisition," she remarked, coming over to the
settee on which I was seated. "Look! look! whatever is he going to do
now?"

I was as interested and puzzled as herself, for, knowing of the
extraordinary powers which my little friend possessed, I could never
be sure what to expect from him in the way of the marvellous.

[Illustration: "Shin Shira placed them in the Crystal Bowl."]

This time it was really a most interesting trick.

First of all he turned an inkstand into a large clear crystal bowl, and
placed it on a little table which stood in front of him. Then he asked
for anything to be given to him which the owner wished to disappear.

Several gentlemen gave their watches, and one or two ladies laughingly
took off their bracelets and handed them to Shin Shira, who immediately
placed them in the crystal bowl.

To our utter astonishment, each article as it was placed into t