PALACE OF THE MOUNTEBANKS 139

mankind, and was, moreover, decidedly hand-
some and well-looking, with regular features,
and withal a pleasing expression of counte-
nance. The hump-backed mountebanks,
on the other side, were all of dwarfish
stature, whilst their features were twisted
about after the most ridiculous fashion, and
had an expression, half-wicked and_half-
comic, which was not to be found in the
countenance of any ordinary mortal.

No wonder, therefore, that these people
soon discovered that the new-comer was not
one of themselves, and some of them began
to ask him questions, and to look with
suspicion upon his presence, especially since
he returned short and evasive answers, and
was by no means ready to satisfy their curi-
osity as to the business which he had in
their country.

They might possibly have done no more
than question him, if he had quietly with-
drawn himself, or gone in a different direc-
tion from that which the procession had
taken. The palace, however, was his one
aim and object, and he consequently looked
neither to the right nor left, but pushed on
to the courtyard with the last carriages