thing, did not find it
especially wonderful that the donkey which was in waiting was the same
on which he had ridden the evening before, and that its driver was the
same half-witted youth who had given him such useful information about
the passwords. This youth grinned and ducked his head when he saw
Yellow-cap, and held the stirrup for him to mount.

As Yellow-cap did so the thought occurred to him that perhaps he might
get a chance to gallop away down some side-street, and so make his
escape even at the last moment; for it must be confessed that he did
not feel much courage for this adventure. Much to his disappointment,
however, no sooner was he in the saddle than the donkey-driver took
hold of the donkey's bridle on one side and Silvia on the other; and
in this way they set out.

'Why are you coming with us, Silvia?' Yellow-cap asked, after they had
gone a little way. 'Are you one of the conspirators?'

'No, your Lordship, not exactly,' she replied; 'but I usually take the
part of Columbine, and sometimes lead the ballet.'

'So it's to be a pantomime, is it?' thought Yellow-cap. 'I wonder what
the grand transformation scene will be like?'

Then he turned to the donkey-driver, who was plodding along with a
vacant grin upon his features, and asked him what part he had to play.

'Oh, please your Worship,' he replied, 'I'm to be the Clown; and that
young woman,' pointing to Silvia, 'is to be my sweetheart, if I can
catch her.'

'And I'm to be Harlequin, I suppose,' said Yellow-cap to himself.
'Well, I'm sure I begin to feel like one.'

Meanwhile they had entered the chief street of the town, which led to
the Drury Lane Theatre. This was a handsome building of white marble,
with columns and a sculptured frieze; it was the model which the
Greeks long afterwards followed when they built their Parthenon. A
great multitude of people were collected in front of the pit and
gallery entrances; and when they caught sight of Yellow-cap they set
up a great buzzing and murmuring, mingled with shouts and huzzas and
waving of hats and handkerchiefs.

'There he is! that's him!' cried the people one to another. 'That's
him on the grey charger, with the captive prince and princess
a-leading of him along. Oh, ain't he a swell!'

'Hurry up, guv'nor, or you'll be late!' shouted others; and indeed as
Yellow-cap looked up at the clock which was placed in the pediment of
the theatre he saw that it marked five minutes to ten.

'Ha