[Illustration: "HE SAW A DULL HEAVY SMOKE ARISE TO THE CEILING." [_Page 171._]] A MODERN ALADDIN _OR, THE WONDERFUL ADVENTURES OF OLIVER MUNIER_ =An Extravaganza in Four Acts= BY HOWARD PYLE AUTHOR OF "PEPPER AND SALT" ETC. ILLUSTRATED NEW YORK HARPER & BROTHERS, FRANKLIN SQUARE 1892 Copyright, 1891, by HARPER & BROTHERS. _All rights reserved._ ILLUSTRATIONS. "HE SAW A DULL HEAVY SMOKE ARISE TO THE CEILING" _Frontispiece_ "HE WAS A TALL, DARK GENTLEMAN, DRESSED IN BLACK FROM HEAD TO FOOT" _To face page_ 8 "'I AM THY UNCLE,' SAID THE STRANGE GENTLEMAN" " " 12 "AT THAT MOMENT SHE LOOKED UP" " " 18 "HE SUDDENLY BEGAN AN UNCOUTH, GROTESQUE DANCE" " " 22 "HE LIGHTED A MATCH AND DROPPED IT INTO THE VASE" " " 30 "OLIVER GAVE A PIPING CRY" " " 36 "AT THE OPEN DOOR-WAY STOOD GASPARD AND HIS MASTER" " " 42 "CREEPING CAUTIOUSLY FORWARD, OLIVER CAME TO THE CHIMNEY-PIECE" " " 46 "'GOOD-DAY, MONSIEUR,' SAID A FAMILIAR VOICE" " " 56 "THE QUESTION WAS SO SUDDEN AND SO STARTLING THAT OLIVER SANK BACK IN HIS SEAT" " " 58 "SUCH WAS THE WORKSHOP IN WHICH THE TWO LABORED TOGETHER" " " 70 "THEY SAW ARNOLD DE VILLENEUVE, THE GREAT MASTER, UPON THE FLOOR" " " 74 "SHE HELD THE BOOK IN THE FLAMES WHILE TALKING, HER EYES FIXED INTENTLY UPON IT" " " 84 "HE LEANED OVER AND LOOKED INTO HER FACE" " " 86 "AND STRIPPED THE FALSE BODY OFF OF HIM AS YOU MIGHT STRIP OFF A MAN'S COAT" " " 94 "HE SAW WITHIN AN OVAL MIRROR SET IN A HEAVY FRAME OF COPPER" " " 98 "THE INNKEEPER SERVED HIM IN PERSON" " " 102 "'MAD!' SAID OLIVER, 'WHY AM I MAD?'" " " 110 "HE IS CLAD IN A LOOSE DRESSING-ROBE OF FIGURED CLOTH, AND LIES IN BED READING HIS BOOK" " " 114 "OLIVER SPREAD OUT THE GEMS UPON THE TABLE WITH HIS HAND" " " 124 "ENTER OLIVER AND MADEMOISELLE CÉLESTE" " " 130 "'DO YOU KNOW,' SAID THE MARQUIS, 'WHAT A THING IT IS THAT YOU ASK?'" " " 136