"This thin tissue which crackles under the finger with a sound as of sparks, is the famous yellow cloth which the merchants of Bactria bring us. I will have robes made of it for thee, which thou shalt wear in the house. Unfasten the hooks of that sycamore box, and hand me also the little ivory casket tied to my elephant's shoulder."
(They take something round out of a box—something covered with a cloth—and also bring a little ivory casket covered with carving.)
"Dost thou desire the buckler of Dgian-ben-Dgian, who built the pyramids?—behold it!—It is formed of seven dragon-skins laid one over the other, tanned in the bile of parricides, and fastened together by adamantine screws. Upon one side are represented all the wars that have taken place since the invention of weapons; and upon the other, all the wars that will take place until the end of the world. The lightning itself rebounds from it like a ball of cork. I am going to place it upon thy arm; and thou wilt carry it during the chase.
"But if thou didst only know what I have in this little box of mine! Turn it over and over again! try to open it! No one could ever succeed in doing that. Kiss me! and I will tell thee how to open it."
(She takes Saint Anthony by both cheeks. He pushes her away at arms' length.)
"It was one night that King Solomon lost his head. At last we concluded a bargain. He arose, and stealing out on tiptoe...."
(She suddenly executes a pirouette.)
"Ah, ah! comely hermit, thou shalt not know it! thou shalt not know!"
(She shakes her parasol, making all its little bells tinkle.)