This was indeed one of the happiest moments of their lives. They forgot they had a single care as they breakfasted heartily upon the tender chicken, the snow-white bread with plenty of brown crust, the golden butter, and the rich milk which their benefactor had provided so thoughtfully. They had never before enjoyed so delicious a repast, and Nadine's natural refinement made her appreciate it all the more because of the elegance of its appointments, for the dishes, the napery, the knives and forks were from Madame's own table.
"May the good God bless her a thousand times and more!" she fervently exclaimed when at last even Cæsar's vigorous appetite was appeased. "What a treat she has given us all! Come now, let us put the things neatly back in the basket. I believe there is enough still left for us to have for dinner."
At three o'clock in the afternoon the Tamby family with the exception of Nadine, who remained in charge of their property, after the manner of performers of their kind, started out to parade the streets so as to let the people know of their presence and the entertainment they proposed to give.
For this purpose a very shabby howdah was with no little difficulty, on account of its weight, fixed upon the patient Nalla's back. In this, little Lydia, with Abel and Cæsar, took their places, trying to look as important as possible.
Cæsar had a drum which he beat at intervals, and whenever there was anybody to listen to him he would call out the place and time of the approaching performance. He always enjoyed this part of the business. He liked being before the public, and to be perched high up on the elephant's back, and attracting so much attention was quite according to his taste.
As for Vigilant, he too had his part to play. He balanced himself cleverly upon Nalla's broad neck just in front of the howdah and supported Cæsar's drumming by volleys of shrill barking which most clearly meant:
"Here we are! Listen to us! Come and patronize our entertainment! We're well worth seeing I can tell you!"