"Begone, slave," cried the voice from out of the dark, and then to Mr Smith's horror, a short figure crossed to the window, and he could see the outline of a smooth bald head upon the blind, which was directly afterwards dragged down and wrapped round the person into whose room the fugitive had run. A light now broke upon Mr Smith; here was the real Simon Pure; but what a position to be in, locked in the same room with a madman--a shaven-headed lunatic, escaped from some private asylum. "My Lord; Most Grand one, open the door and admit your slave," came in a hoarse whisper through the keyhole. "Is the banquet prepared?" said the madman. "Yes, my lord," croaked the keeper. "Is Bootes there? Have Arcturus, Aldebaran, Orion, and Beta Pi assembled?" "Yes, my lord, and it's done to a touch," growled the keeper. "Prostrate thyselves, then, slaves, and let the winds all blow and boom. I come. Ha! a spy," cried the madman, rushing at Mr Smith, who in his great horror leaped upon the bed, and buried himself beneath the clothes in which he enveloped himself so closely, that his adversary could not drag him forth. "Come forth, thou traitor," shrieked the madman, tearing at the clothes so fiercely, that a huge bundle rolled off the bed on to the floor, wherein, half-smothered, lay poor Mr Smith, in a most profuse state of perspiration. All at once there was a cessation of the kicks and thumps, but a threatening of an increased state of suffocation, for there seemed to the covered man to be a struggle going on, and two or three people fell upon him. Then there came the buzz of voices, and he found himself gently unrolled from the mass of clothing, to sit up, staring around with white head and flushed face at the room full of people, while in one corner closely guarded by his keeper stood the Grand Porkendillo, sucking his thumb, and leering at every one in turn. For this gentleman having made his escape from the neighbouring establishment of a famous doctor, had taken refuge in the Golden Bull, whose landlord was most profuse in his apologies to Mr Smith, for the mistake that had been made. But, as the chambermaid said when Mr Smith had taken his departure:-- "Lor', Sir, as soon as they said the poor man's head was shaved, I made sure it was him." CHAPTER TWENTY TWO. TO BE SOLD BY AUCTION.