The City of Pleasure: A Fantasia on Modern Themes

CONTENTS



Carpentaria!
One of the three richly-uniformed officials who were in charge of the captive balloon, destined to be a leading attraction of the City of Pleasure, murmured this name warningly to his companions, as if to advise them that the moment had arrived for them to mind their p’s and q’s. And each man looked cautiously through the tail of his eye at a striking figure which was approaching through crowds of people to the enclosure. The figure was tall and had red hair and a masterful face, and it was clothed in a blue suit that set off the red hair to perfection. Over the wicket of the enclosure a small enamelled sign had been hung:
“ President : Josephus Ilam.
“ Managing and Musical Director : Charles Carpentaria.
“ Balloon Ascents every half-hour after three o’clock. Height of a thousand feet guaranteed. Seats, half-a-crown, including field-glass .”
The sign was slightly askew, and the approaching figure tapped it into position, and then entered the enclosure.