_Chorus of British Saleswomen_. _Will_ you allow me to show you this little novelty, Sir? _'Ave_ you seen the noo perfume sprinkler? Do come and try this noo puzzle--no 'arm in _lookin'_, Sir. Very nice little novelties 'ere, Sir! 'Eard the noo French Worltz, Sir? every article is really very much reduced, &c, &c. AT THE FOLIES-BERGÈRE. SCENE--_A hall in the grounds. Several turnstiles leading to curtained entrances._ _Showmen_ (_shouting_). Amphitrite, the Marvellous Floatin' Goddess. Just about to commence! This way for the Mystic Gallery--three Illusions for threepence! Atalanta, the Silver Queen of the Moon; the Oriental Beauty in the Table of the Sphinx, and the Wonderful Galatea, or Pygmalion's Dream. Only threepence! This way for the Mystic Marvel o' She! Now commencing! _A Female Sightseer_ (_with the air of a person making an original suggestion_). Shall we go in, just to see what it's like? _Male Ditto_. May as well, now we _are_ 'ere. (_To preserve himself from any suspicion of credulity._) Sure to be a take-in o' some sort. [_They enter a dim apartment, in which two or three people are leaning over a barrier in front of a small Stage; the Curtain is lowered, and a Pianist is industriously pounding away at a Waltz_. _The F.S._ (_with an uncomfortable giggle_). Not much to see _so_ far, is there? _Her Companion_. Well, they ain't begun yet. [_The Waltz ends, and the Curtain rises, disclosing a Cavern Scene._ Amphitrite, _in blue tights, rises through the floor._ _Amphitrite_ (_in the Gallic tongue_). Mesdarms et Messures, j'ai 'honnoor de vous sooayter le bong jour! (_Floats, with no apparent support, in the air, and performs various graceful evolutions, concluding by reversing herself completely_). Bong swore, Mesdarms et messures, mes remercimongs! [_She dives below, and the Curtain descends._ _The F.S._ Is that all? I don't see nothing in _that_! _Her Comp._ (_who, having paid for admission, resents this want of appreciation_). Why, she was off the ground the 'ole of the time, wasn't she? I'd just like to see _you_ turnin' and twisting about in the air as easy as she did with nothing to 'old on by! _The F.S._ I didn't notice she was off the ground--yes, that _was_ clever. I never thought o' that before. Let's go and see the other things now. _Her Comp._ Well, if you don't see nothing surprising in 'em till they're all over, you might as well stop outside, _I_ should ha' thought. _The F.S._ Oh, but I'll notice more next time--you've got to get _used_ to these things, you know. [_They enter the Mystic Gallery, and find themselves in a dim passage, opposite a partitioned compartment, in which is a glass case, supported on four pedestals, with a silver crescent at the back. The Illusions--to judge from a sound of scurrying behind the scenes--have apparently been taken somewhat unawares._