dn't we better move a little faster?' he said anxiously to Silvia.
'And how are we ever to get through all this crowd?'

'Oh, we have time enough,' she answered very unconcernedly. 'And,
since we must go in by the stage-door, the crowd won't hinder us.'

As she spoke they turned down a narrow alley to the left, and soon
came to a small entrance in the side of the building. Through this the
donkey quietly walked, and up a flight of steps to an inner
passageway. Before he knew where he was Yellow-cap found himself on an
immense stage, at the further side of which was standing King Ormund
himself, surrounded by a group of courtiers. The courtiers were all
enveloped in long white dominoes, the sight of which caused Yellow-cap
to look behind him with a sudden misgiving. He had supposed until this
moment that the six Brethren were following behind him; but he now
discovered that, except for Silvia and the half-witted donkey-driver,
he was quite alone.

'What has become of them?' he cried in dismay.

'There they are,' said Silvia coolly, pointing to the group of
courtiers. 'Where else should they be?'

'They have deserted me, then?'

'Not at all; but as the conspiracy is all on your account it is only
fair that you should take all the risks. If the conspiracy were to
fail, and they were to have their heads cut off, there could be no
conspiracy next year; but if only you are executed your cap would be
saved, and there would be no difficulty about finding some one else to
wear it.'

'Upon my word,' muttered Yellow-cap to himself rather angrily,
'however this matter goes I am resolved that I will not lose my head
before making those six rascals shake in their shoes. Courtiers
indeed! We shall see.'

At this moment the curtain drew up and showed the vast audience
crowding every part of the theatre. A great clapping of hands and
stamping of feet followed, and there were several catcalls and
whistlings from the pit and gallery. Almost every member of the
audience was provided with a programme headed, '_Grand Annual
Pantomime: the Conspiracy_,' and containing a list of the performers.
Attendants were also moving about hawking librettos of the dialogue.
Familiar though Yellow-cap had become with marvels, he could not help
wondering how anybody could know what he was going to say. He
certainly did not know himself.

The audience had now become silent--not a sound was to be heard in the
theatre except the occasional rustle o