"Would you be so kind, then, as to show our kind patrons a quick-step of your own invention?" asked Abel.
"With pleasure," answered Nalla, but he did not budge nevertheless.
"Why, what's the matter? Why don't you begin?" demanded Abel, with well-simulated surprise and anger.
For reply Nalla resumed singing with his huge horrid voice.
"Ah! I understand," smiled Abel, giving himself a slap with the wand. "I was forgetting. You require some one to play for you, of course."
"Yes, yes," replied the mobile trunk, which expressed its owner's meaning quite as well as the fingers of deaf-mutes do what they want to tell.
Turning around, Abel called out:
"Mr. Musician Cæsar, will you be so good as to select from your repertoire something that will do for the elephant to dance to?"
"I shall be very pleased to do so," responded Cæsar promptly, coming forward with his mandolin.