d company.

You must know I had pulled off the third history prize in our division
last term, and therefore felt more or less friendly disposed to the
kings and queens generally, and was even a little curious to see what
they looked like, now that I was supposed to know more about them than
most fellows do.

To tell the truth, although I had several times been to Madame Tussaud's
before, I had invariably cut these grand people and devoted myself to
another part of the establishment, which boys are usually supposed to
understand better. Even on the present occasion it was necessary to pay
a visit to those regions, since several celebrated historical figures
were kept down there, which I felt I must on no account miss seeing.

But after I had thoroughly explored that portion, making the
acquaintance of all the new-comers, putting my head into the guillotine,
taking a turn in the condemned cell, sitting in Napoleon's carriage, and
otherwise informing myself concerning the seamy side of human nature, I
determined to be virtuous and devote at least half an hour to the study
of the royalties in the Great Hall.

The enterprise was not to be undertaken without refreshment. I
therefore took a preliminary excursion to the ground floor, where the
historical costumes are kept, and, close beside them, the ices, buns,
Victoria sandwiches, ginger-beer, Turkish delight, lemon squashes, and
other wholesome aids to historical research. Here I dallied a little--
just long enough to repair the ravages of nature--and then, feeling very
much as Little Jack Horner did after he had partaken of refreshment, I
mounted once more the marble stairs and set myself to do the crowned
heads.

I set myself literally, for it occurred to me I could do their Majesties
just as well sitting as standing. And, as the afternoon was hot, and
the sofa near the door was comfortable, and as, moreover, I was slightly
oppressed with my study of the costumes downstairs, and considerably
soothed by the strains of Madame Tussaud's orchestra, it so fell out
that, just as I was nodding how-do-you-do to William the Conqueror, I
dropped asleep.

How long I slept I must leave it to those of my readers who have come
through the same exertions of mind and body to guess. I had never
intended to exceed a short forty winks, because I was aware that only
half an hour was left before the time for closing arrived. But when I
awoke it was with a start, to find that the p