Rolie Polie watched the tricks of the clowns with much interest, and, although he laughed and applauded generously, yet it was very apparent that he thought his own tricks to be quite superior. “They should have a donkey to ride,” he said to the Miller of Dee, who chanced to be standing near him. “Now-a-days, we clowns always have a donkey. When the games are over I will show the people one or two new tricks that will be thought comical.”
So interested were the people in the performance that but few of them noticed the entrance into the park of three men, wearing long coats which were bound about with broad belts and fastened with big buckles. They were accompanied by a man in a long red coat, who, after a moment’s whispered conversation, left them.
These three men now went to the Master of Ceremonies, and, bowing to him, the tall one said: “We are strolling Musicians and we desire to play one of our famous tunes for their Majesties.” {72}
“So, you want to play to the King and Queen, do you?” asked the Master of Ceremonies. “Well, what tune can you play?”
“Oh we play upon horns,” answered the big one, poking the end of the instrument out from under his coat.
“That looks more like a big pistol,” said the Master.
The Musician started at these words, but presently recovered himself and showed the Master all of the instrument which in very truth proved to be no more than a big horn.
The Master did not like the looks of the men’s faces and was suspicious of their not being all that they pretended. Nevertheless, he saw no harm in allowing them to play, and so led the way across the park to the King and Queen.
