Botts jumped up and knocked Boneskull down, and kicked him off the platform.
"Murder! murder! murder!" roared the phrenologist as he rolled on the floor among the audience.
The ladies shrieked, and two constables rushed forward, and, seizing Botts, who was swearing vociferously, led him from the room.
"Where is Boneskull?" exclaimed a man in the crowd.
"Here he is under my feet," said another.
The little man was lifted up and placed on the platform.
"Oh, dear," said Rosabel, "he is almost murdered! Look how he is bleeding."
Boneskull put his handkerchief to his nose, from which a crimson stream was copiously flowing, and hastily retreated from the room by a back door.
The Professor followed him out, and soon returned and announced that the phrenologist was too much disabled to resume his position on the platform. It was therefore proposed to entertain the audience with some experiments in biology, and to show them the wonderful effects of a psychological illusion.
"Let any one who is so disposed," said the Professor, "sit for fifteen minutes with his eyes closed and his right thumb on his left pulse. At the end of that time I will commence my experiments."