"Well," he decided, after the case had been explained to him, "if the lady's as game as she seems, and the gentleman likewise, _I_ don't see any objection. Along with _me_, there'll be no more danger than if it was a cage of white mice--provided you've the nerve for it." Lurana said proudly that her own mother had been an accomplished animal trainer--she did not mention the kind of animals--and that she herself was quite incapable of being afraid of a lion. [Illustration: "Well, if the lady's as game as she seems, and the gentleman likewise, I don't see any objection."] "If you've _got_ nerve," said Mr Niono, "you're right enough, but you can't _create_ it; it's a gift. Take _me_. I'm hardly ever away from my animals. I get downright impatient for every performance. But if ever I got the feeling that I was _afraid_ of them lions or they weren't afraid o' me, do you think I'd trust myself inside that cage? No fear! They've left their marks on me as it is--my 'trade marks,' as I call 'em--see!" and here he bared his arm and exhibited some fearful scars; "but that's affection, that is." He then offered to introduce us to his pets, and I should have accompanied Lurana to see the cage, only on the way we met Mlle. Léonie, to whom Mr Sawkins presented me, and, naturally, I was compelled to stop. She was a piquant-looking woman, not quite in her first youth, perhaps, but still attractive, and with the indescribable, airy grace of a Parisian, though I believe she came from Belgium. Mademoiselle was charmed with our project, complimented me upon my Britannic phlegm, and predicted that I should find the little experience "all," as she put it, "that there was of the most agreeable," which I devoutly hoped would be the case. [Illustration: We were still chatting when Laurana returned.] We were still chatting when Lurana returned, enraptured with the lions, one of whom had actually allowed her to tickle him behind the ear. Niono testified that _her_ nerve, at all events, was beyond question. She was anxious that I should go and tickle the lion, too; but this I declined, being occupied in talking to Mlle. Léonie at the time. "There's one thing," said Mr Sawkins later, as we were discussing the arrangements, "we shouldn't object to paying for the special licence; but where are you going to find a parson to marry you? You must have a parson of _some_ sort, you know." Again Fate seemed to have interposed an insurmountable barrier between us and our desire. I had to admit that it would be difficult, if not impossible, to find a clergyman courageous enough to enter the cage with us. "Well, there's no call for him to be _inside_ of it," said Mr Niono, who was with us, heart and soul, by this time. "In fact, the lady and yourself are about as many as I could undertake to be answerable for. We could rig him up a perch outside to read the service from, comfortable."