so
successful.

That evening we had the room as full as it could hold. Signor Velotti
_alias_ Melchior astonished them. The cards appeared to obey his
commands--rings were discovered in lady's shoes--watches were beat to a
powder and made whole--canary birds flew out of eggs. The audience were
delighted. The entertainment closed with Fleta's performance on the
slack wire; and certainly never was there anything more beautiful and
graceful. Balanced on the wire in a continual, waving motion, her eyes
fixed upon a point to enable her to maintain her position, she performed
several feats, such as the playing with five oranges, balancing swords,
etcetera. Her extreme beauty--her very picturesque and becoming dress--
her mournful expression and downcast eyes--her gentle manner, appeared
to win the hearts of the audience; and when she was assisted off from
her perilous situation by Melchior and me, and made her graceful
courtesy, the plaudits were unanimous.

When the company dispersed I went to her, intending to praise her, but I
found her in tears. "What is the matter, my dear Fleta?"

"O nothing! don't say I have been crying--but I cannot bear it--so many
people looking at me. Don't say a word to Melchior--I won't cry any
more."

PART ONE, CHAPTER TWELVE.

IT IS VERY EASY TO HUMBUG THOSE WHO ARE SO EAGER TO BE HUMBUGGED AS
PEOPLE ARE IN THIS WORLD OF HUMBUG--WE SHOW OURSELVES EXCESSIVELY
DISINTERESTED, WHICH ASTONISHES EVERYBODY.

I kissed and consoled her; she threw her arm round my neck, and remained
there with her face hid for some time. We then joined the others at
supper. Melchior was much pleased with our success, and highly praised
the conduct of Timothy and myself, which he pronounced was, for the
first attempt, far beyond his expectations.

We continued to astonish all the good people of -- for five days, when
we discovered the indubitable fact, that there was no more money to be
extracted from their pockets, upon which we resumed our usual clothes
and smock-frocks and with our bundles in our hands, set off for another
market town, about fifteen miles distant. There we were equally
successful, and Melchior was delighted with our having proved such a
powerful acquisition to his troop; but not to dwell too long upon one
subject, I shall inform the reader that, after a trip of six weeks,
during which we were very well received, we once more returned to the
camp, which had located within five mi