Mr. Barlow. This Scene of the Amazons' Encampment will attract the whole town. It is indeed a magnificent spectacle.
Tommy. There must be thousands on the stage!
Mr. Barlow smiled at this, and was about to demonstrate, mathematically, the improbability of more than three hundred of the corps de ballet being on the scene at once, when his attention was attracted to the Grand Transformation Scene by vociferous applause, in which he was conscientiously able to join. On their quitting the theatre, at eleven o'clock, the boys were loud in their praises of what they had seen.
Harry. How diverting were those French dancers! and the Shadows!
Tommy. And the Clown with the two boys! and their fiddles and musical bells!
Mr. Barlow. You are right. With the comic scenes and the Clown came the fun peculiar to this species of amusement, of which there was, amid all the glitter and splendour, a lack. And perhaps this is as it should be; for why term the Harlequinade "the Comic Scenes," unless they are so by comparison with the previous portion of the Pantomime?
Harry. Your observation, Sir, reminds me of the entertaining story of Sophronius and Kydaspes, which Tommy has not yet heard.
Harry was about to commence the tale without further parley, when it was discovered that Tommy had slipped out of the room, and had, it was supposed, retired to bed. Mr. Barlow therefore intimated that, as he had heard the story before, it would be better if they both followed their young friend's example.
Harry submitted to this arrangement; and when the two boys were assured that their worthy preceptor was asleep, they took his latchkey, and sallied forth to enjoy themselves at Evans's supper-rooms.