else knew much more. By this time I had,
of course, recovered my usual composure;
but I could see that Griffiths had been drinking,
for his face was flushed and his balance
unsteady. When the rehearsal was over,
Mr. Rice called us into his private room and
brought out a decanter of sherry, with which,
I must say, he was always as liberal as any
gentleman could be.

"Patagonians," says he, for he had a
wonderfully merry way with him, and always
called us by that name, " I suppose you
would make no objection to a little matter of
extra work and extra pay on the sixth—just
to end the season with something stunning
—hey ? "

"No, no, sir, not we," replied Griffiths, in
a sort of hearty manner that wasn't natural
to him. " We're ready for anything. Is it
the flying business you spoke about the other
day?"

"Better than that," said the manager,
filling up the glasses. "It's a new French
feat that has never yet been done in this
country, and they call it the trapeze.
Patagonians, your health!"

So we drank his in return, and Mr. Rice
explained all about it. It was to be an
exhibition of posturing and a balloon ascent both
in one. At some distance below the car was
to be secured a triangular wooden framework,
which framework was called the trapeze.
From the lower pole, or base of this triangle,
one of us was to be suspended, with a ligature
of strong leather attached to his ancle, in
case of accidents. Just as the balloon was
rising and this man ascending head
downwards, the other was to catch him by the
hands and go up also, having, if he preferred
it, some band or other to bind him to his
companion. In this position we were then
to go through our customary performances,
continuing them so long as the balloon
remained in sight.'

"All this," said Mr. Rice, " sounds much
more dangerous than it really is. The
motion of a balloon through the air is so
steady and imperceptible that, but for the
knowledge of being up above the housetops,
you will perform almost as comfortably as in
the gardens. Besides, I am speaking to
brave men who know their business, and are
not to be dashed by a trifle — hey, Patagonians?"

Griffiths brought his hand down heavily
upon the table, and made the glasses ring
again.

"I'm ready', sir," said he, with an oath.
"I'm ready to do it alone, if any man here is
afraid to go with me!"

He looked at me as he said this, with a
sort of mocking laugh that brought the blood
up into my face.

"If you mean that for me, John," said
I, quickly, " I'm no more afraid than
yourself; and, if that's all about it, I'll go up
to-night!"

If I was to try from now till this day next
year, I never could describe the expression
that came over his face as I spoke those
words. It seemed to turn all the currents
of my blood. I could not understand it
then — but I understood it well enough
afterwards.

Well, Mr. Rice was mightily pleased to
find us so willing, and a very few more words
ended the matter. Mr. Staines and his
famous Wurtemberg balloon were to be
engaged; fifteen hundred additional coloured
lamps were to be hired; and Griffiths and
I were to receive twelve pounds a-piece
for the evening, over and above our general
salary.

Poor Ally! In the midst of the excitement,
I had forgotten her, and it was not till
I was out of the theatre and walking slowly
homewards that I remembered she must be
told. For my own part, I did not believe
there was the slightest danger; but I knew
how her fears would magnify everything, and
the nearer I came towards Islington the
more uncomfortable I felt. After all, I was
such a coward — for I always am a coward
where women are concerned — that I could
not tell her that day, nor even the next; and
it was only on Sunday, when we were sitting
together after dinner, that I found courage
to speak of it. I had expected something of
a scene; but I had no idea that she would
have taken on as she did, and I declare that,
even then, if the posters had not been already
out and myself bound in honour to act up to
my engagement, I would have gone straight
to Mr. Rice and declined the business
altogether. Poor little, soft-hearted darling! it
was a sore trial to her and to me also, and I
was an inconsiderate idiot not to have thought
of her feelings in the first instance. But
there was no help for it now; so I gave her
the only consolation in my power by solemnly
promising that I would be the first man tied
to the trapeze. It was, of course, the safest
position, and when I had assured her of this,
she grew calmer. On all other points I kept
my own counsel, as you may be certain; and
as to John Griffiths, I saw less of him than
ever. He even took his meals in the city
now, and, during the seven days that elapsed
between the twenty-ninth and the sixth,
never once came face to face with me, except
upon the stage.

I had a hard matter to get away from
home when the afternoon of the sixth came
round. My darling clung about me as if her
heart would break, and although I did my
best to cheer her, I don't mind confessing
now that I went out and cried a tear or two
in the passage.

"Keep up your spirits, Ally dear," says I,
smiling and kissing her the last thing before
I left the house. " And don't be spoiling
your pretty eyes in that way. Remember
that I want you to look well, and that we
are to be married to-morrow."