Die digitale Landesbibliothek Oberösterreich

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1.4 
culars, it seems, she had been guided by the calmer 
judgment of her friend the dwarf. At his sug- 
gestion it was that, on this occasion, the chandelier 
was removed. a 
Its waxen drippings (which, in weather so warm, 
it was quite impossible to prevent) would have 
been seriously detrimental to the rich dresses of 
the guests, who, on account of the crowded state 
of the saloon, could not all be expected to keep 
from out its centre—that is to say, from under the 
chandelier. a * 
Additional sconces were set in various parts of 
the hall, out of the way; and a flambeau, emitting 
sweet odour, was placed in the right hand of each 
of the Caryatides that stood against the wall— 
some fifty or sixty altogether. 
~ The eight ourang-outangs, taking Hop-Frog’s 
advice, waited patiently until midnight (when the 
room was thoroughly filled with masqueraders) 
before making their appearance. - 
No sooner had the clock ceased striking, however, 
than they rushed, or rather rolled in, all together 
—ifor the impediments of their chains caused most 
of the party to fall, and all to stumble as they 
entered. = 
~ The excitement among the masqueraders ‘was 
prodigious, and filled the heart of the king with 
glee. As had been anticipated, there were not a 
few of the guests who supposed the ferocious- 
looking creatures to be beasts of some kind in 
reality, if not precisely ourang-outangs. 
Many of the women swooned with affright; and had 
not the king taken the precaution to exclude all 
weapons ‘from the saloon, his party might soon 
have expiated their frolic in their blood. = 
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