_Alex._ I trust my Aline will not yield to fear while the strong right arm of her Alexis is here to protect her. _Ali._ It’s nonsense, dear, to talk of your protecting me with your strong right arm, in face of the fact that this Family Sorcerer could change me into a guinea-pig before you could turn round. _Alex._ He _could_ change you into a guinea-pig, no doubt, but it is most unlikely that he would take such liberty. It’s a most respectable firm, and I am sure he would never be guilty of so untradesmanlike an act. _Enter MR. WELLS from tent._ _Mr. W._ Good day, sir. [_ALINE much terrified._ _Alex._ Good day. I believe you are a sorcerer. _Mr. W._ Yes, sir, we practise necromancy in all its branches. We’ve a choice assortment of wishing-caps, divining-rods, amulets, charms, and counter-charms. We can cast you a nativity at a low figure, and we have a horoscope at three and six that we can guarantee. Our Abudah chests, each containing a patent hag who comes out and prophesies disasters, with spring complete, are strongly recommended. Our Aladdin lamps are very chaste, and our prophetic tablets, foretelling everything--from a change of ministry down to a rise in Turkish stock--are much inquired for. Our penny curse--one of the cheapest things in the trade--is considered infallible. We have some very superior blessings, too, but they’re very little asked for. We’ve only sold one since Christmas--to a gentleman who bought it to send to his mother-in-law--but it turned out that he was afflicted in the head, and it’s been returned on our hands. But our sale of penny curses, especially on Saturday nights, is tremendous. We can’t turn ’em out fast enough. SONG.--MR. WELLS. Oh! my name is John Wellington Wells. I’m a dealer in magic and spells, In blessings and curses, And ever-filled purses, In prophecies, witches, and knells. If you want a proud foe to “make tracks”-- If you’d melt a rich uncle in wax-- You’ve but to look in On our resident Djinn, Number seventy, Simmery Axe. We’ve a first-class assortment of magic; And for raising a posthumous shade With effects that are comic or tragic, There’s no cheaper house in the trade. Love-philtre--we’ve quantities of it! And for knowledge if any one burns, We keep an extremely small prophet Who brings us unbounded returns: