llow-cap. 'Why are you all dressed in
white?'

'So that we may be the blacker inside,' said Ruba, looking up from his
book.

'It is the court-dress of conspirators,' added Dubb.

'We are clothed in the unwritten pages of history,' continued Dubsix.

'We shall be red hereafter,' said Menin, archly.

'Because we rose against the tyrant,' concluded Atub, with a sigh.

'They are apt to be rather stupid at this hour in the morning,'
remarked Gyp, turning to Yellow-cap, 'but they will get warmed to it
presently. May I ask whether you are perfect in your part?'

'I have not thought of any rhyme to "Ormund,"' said Yellow-cap.

'Any rhyme will do,' Gyp went on; 'and perhaps the Home or the
Foreign Doggerel will be able to help you to one when the time comes.'

'Brethren,' said Yellow-cap, clearing his throat, 'I propose we put
off this affair until to-morrow. I don't feel at all well this
morning; and besides, a thing like this ought to be done after dark,
not in broad daylight.'

Hereupon the six Brethren looked at one another and gave a low
whistle; and after a pause Gyp said--

'This day is the only day in the year on which conspiracies are
allowed to take place, and they are not permitted later than ten
o'clock in the forenoon. But I may mention that the theatre is always
darkened, and is lighted by artificial means.'

'I do not understand,' said Yellow-cap, 'how a conspiracy can succeed,
if the people who are conspired against fix the time when it is to
come off.'

'What sort of an audience should we get,' replied Gyp, 'if the date of
the performance was not advertised beforehand? We should find
ourselves playing to empty boxes. Besides, conspiracies are costly;
and if----'

'If you please,' said Silvia, opening the door, 'it is just upon nine
o'clock, and the donkey waits.'

'We come!' said all the Brethren together, They rose up, put their
play-books in their pockets, and joining hands so as to form a circle,
with Gyp and Yellow-cap in the middle of it, they rapidly repeated
five times over the following mystic chant, Gyp beating time for them
with the forefinger of his right hand on the five fingers of his
left:--

Ruba--Dubb--Dubsix--Menin--Atub--Chorus--Gyp!

This having been duly performed, Gyp, with an air of great respect,
took Yellow-cap by the arm and led him out to the street, the other
five Brethren following behind. Yellow-cap, who had by this time
almost ceased feeling surprised at any