"Ladies and gentlemen," he said with remarkable composure for a mere boy. "We are now about to show you some tableaux vivants. For these we ask of you complete silence, and a little patience. The exhibition of the animals will be given very soon. We will carry out the entire program as announced, and we beg of you in return, if you are satisfied with our performance, to be no less liberal with your money than with your applause."
This little speech quite took the fancy of the crowd, who cheered it heartily, and were about to settle down again to look and listen attentively when the sound of approaching carriages made itself heard.
Nadine's heart leaped for joy. Here at last were Madame Pradère and her guests. The performance would be honored with their presence after all.
A moment later they appeared, Madame leading the way, her comely countenance covered with smiles, and accompanied by several of her lady friends, while Monsieur Pradère and a dozen of the officers followed in her train, among them being the Colonel, who had thus fulfilled his promise.
This was a great surprise to the rest of the spectators, for certainly it had never been known before that ladies should be present at an open-air performance by mountebanks, while the soldiers were not less surprised to see their officers patronizing such an affair.
This, then, was the explanation of the reserved seats, and for a brief space the first-comers found it more interesting than the items on the program. By so happy a hit the little Tamby family had advanced wonderfully in the estimation of the spectators, who said to themselves that in order to attract such distinguished patrons as the Pradères and their friends they must have some very unusual acts in their repertoire, and no doubt deserved to be called the little artists.
Nadine at once went forward to bow to Madame Pradère, and to thank her for the honor of her presence, and her kindness to the orphans.
Madame Pradère made light of that, but went on to say with an encouraging smile:
"My child, I came especially to hear you sing, for I believe that you can tell us pretty things that we do not yet know. So proceed, my little girl. We are here to listen to you."
Nadine courtesied gracefully, and disappeared behind the curtain. When the curtain rose again she was disclosed in the middle of the stage with her little sister seated near while Cæsar stood ready to accompany her with a mandolin.