Then, taking off his toque, he made sweeping bows to right and left, which the docile elephant imitated by elevating and lowering his trunk in a dignified manner that was highly amusing.
"And now, Nalla," continued Abel, who bore himself with all the importance of a grown person, "you will be good enough to let us see how much you know and can do. For instance, can you sing like your mistress, Mademoiselle Nadine?"
"To be sure, I can," responded Nalla, in dumb show, by lifting his trunk up and down.
"Very well, then," smiled Abel. "Suppose you give us one of the songs of your own country, something sweet and tender."
Nalla threw back his enormous ears, and pointing his trunk high into the air, let forth a series of horrible sounds that fairly stunned the ears of the spectators, who nearly rolled over with laughter while they strove to shut out the dreadful noise by clapping their hands over their ears.
"That will do! that will do! Nalla!" cried Abel, giving the absurd creature a slight slap with his wand. "You sing beautifully, of course, but you have a shocking bad voice, and you haven't the least idea of tune. You shall have to take a course of lessons before you again appear in public."
"All right!" said the waving trunk, and the abominable discords ceased abruptly.
"It is evident that you have a very bad cold to-night, Nalla," said Abel, "and your voice requires attention. But if you sing so badly, perhaps you are better at dancing?"
"Certainly, I dance admirably," responded Nalla, proceeding to put himself in position to begin.