“Only fifty centimes!” shouts another public orator; “the most ingenious little machine ever invented!  Goes into the waistcoat pocket—­is wound up every twenty-four hours—­tells the day of the month, the day of the year, the age of the moon, the state of the Bourse, the bank rate of discount, the quarter from which the wind is blowing, the price of new-laid eggs in Paris and the provinces, the rate of mortality in the Fee-jee islands, and the state of your sweetheart’s affections!”

A little further on, by dint of much elbowing, we made our way into a crowded booth where, for the modest consideration of two sous per head, might be seen a Boneless Youth and an Ashantee King.  The performances were half over when we went in.  The Boneless Youth had gone through his feats of agility, and was lying on a mat in a corner of the stage, the picture of limp incapability.  The Ashantee monarch was just about to make his appearance.  Meanwhile, a little man in fleshings and a cocked hat addressed the audience.

“Messieurs and Mesdames—­I have the honor to announce that Caraba Radokala, King of Ashantee, will next appear before you.  This terrific native sovereign was taken captive by that famous Dutch navigator, the Mynheer Van Dunk, in his last voyage round the globe.  Van Dunk, having brought his prisoner to Europe in an iron cage, sold him to the English government in 1840; who sold him again to Milord Barnum, the great American philanthropist, in 1842; who sold him again to Franconi of the Cirque Olympique; who finally sold him to me.  At the time of his capture, Caraba Radokala was the most treacherous, barbarous, and sanguinary monster upon record.  He had three hundred and sixty-five wives—­a wife, you observe, for every day in the year.  He lived exclusively upon human flesh, and consumed, when in good health, one baby per diem.  His palace in Ashantee was built entirely of the skulls and leg-bones of his victims.  He is now, however, much less ferocious; and, though he feeds on live pigeons, rabbits, dogs, mice, and the like, he has not tasted human flesh since his captivity.  He is also heavily ironed.  The distinguished company need therefore entertain no apprehensions.  Pierre—­draw the bolt, and let his majesty loose!”

A savage roar was now heard, followed by a rattling of chains.  Then the curtains were suddenly drawn back, and the Ashantee king—­crowned with a feather head-dress, loaded with red and blue war-paint, and chained from ankle to ankle—­bounded on the stage.

Seeing the audience before him, he uttered a terrific howl.  The front rows were visibly agitated.  Several young women faintly screamed.

The little man in the cocked hat rushed to the front, protesting that the ladies had no reason to be alarmed.  Caraba Radokala, if not wantonly provoked, was now quite harmless—­a little irritable, perhaps, from being waked too suddenly—­would be as gentle as a lamb, if given something to eat:—­“Pierre, quiet his majesty with a pigeon!”