The two men begged a thousand pardons for their intrusion, and were about to explain their intrusion, when Demoiselle de Coucy took Théophraste by the arm, and Lady Jane took M. Mifroid, and they were conducted through the vaults surrounded by the crowd of men. It was difficult for them to prevent the men from poking their eyes out as they fumbled over their faces.
They had been forty-eight hours without food, and their hunger was extreme, and now they were to be taken away from where there was food.
The two women had taken possession of their lamps under the pretext of being troubled by the odor.
They tried to tell the people that they were exhausted, but so many questions were put to them that no opportunity presented itself.
They had by this time reached a large chamber. There was a dull light, and they felt the presence of thousands of people. M. Mifroid managed to get one of the lamps, and quickly pressing the button, lit up the vast hall, in which were crowded thousands of these weird men, all with the large noses and ears, but with no eyes. Some of them walked on all fours, and some had such long noses that they looked like pelicans.
Finally they were informed that they were at the entrance to the meeting hall.