Finally they came out to the ring, and were ushered to their seats.
By the time they were seated the circus was full. It was a sea of heads, hats, fans and moving hands. The crowd seemed compact, so there was not room for any one to get out.
“We’ll have to stay here now, professor,” chuckled Frank. “There is no escape.”
“I resign myself to fate,” said the little man, solemnly fumbling with his red whiskers.
“Hadn’t you better tie a handkerchief over them?” suggested the mischievous Frank.
“Eh? Over what?”
“Those whiskers. You know bright red enrages the bulls, and one of them may crawl right up here to call on you.”
“Get out! Go on with your nonsense! But, really, why did you get seats so near the ring? What if one of those beasts should break over among us?”
“I was determined to be where we could see well, professor, and you will note that I obtained seats on the shady side, among the best people. The people over here are better dressed than those who are baking in the sun on the other side.”
This was true. On the sunny side there were a thousand bright colors from dresses, parasols and fans. It seemed like a gay masquerade.