"That's acting, and what d'you think of it?" he asked. They all applauded vigorously excepting Mr. Gollop, who now prepared to take his part. Nathan then left the stage and the vicar called him back. "You don't go off," he explained. "You stop to welcome the King of Egypt." "Beg pardon," answered the innkeeper. "But of course, so it is. I'll take my stand here." "You bow to the King of Egypt when he comes on," declared Gollop. "He humbly bows to me, don't he, reverend Masterman?" "Yes," said Dennis, "he bows, of course. You'll have a train carried by two boys, Gollop; but the boys aren't here to-night, as they're both down with measles--Mrs. Bassett's youngsters." "I'll bow to you if you bow to me, Tom," said Mr. Baskerville. "That's only right." "Kings don't bow to common people," declared the parish clerk. "Me and my pretended darter--that's Miss Cora Lintern, who's the Princess--ban't going to bow, I should hope." "You ought to, then," declared Jack Head. "No reason because you'm King of Egypt why you should think yourself better than other folk. Make him bow, Nathan. Don't you bow to him if he don't bow to you." "Kings do bow," declared Dennis. "You must bow to Father Christmas, Gollop." "He must bow first, then," argued the parish clerk. "Damn the man! turn him out and let somebody else do it!" cried Head. "Let neither of 'em bow," suggested Mrs. Hacker suddenly. "With all this here bowing and scraping, us shan't be done afore midnight; and I don't come in the play till the end of all things as 'tis." "You'd better decide, your reverence," suggested Vivian. "Your word's law. I say let 'em bow simultaneous--how would that serve?" "Excellent!" declared Dennis. "You'll bow together, please. Now, Mr. Gollop." Thomas marched on with an amazing gait, designed to be regal. "They'll all laugh if you do it like that, Tom," complained Mr. Voysey. "Beggar the man! And why for shouldn't they laugh?" asked Jack Head. "Thomas don't want to make 'em cry, do he? Ban't we all to be as funny as ever we can, reverend Masterman?" "Yes," said Dennis. "In reason--in reason, Jack. But acting is one thing, and playing the fool is another." "Oh, Lord! I thought they was the same," declared Vivian Baskerville. "Because if I've got to act the giant----" "Order! order!" cried the clergyman. "We must get on. Don't be annoyed, Mr. Baskerville, I quite see your point; but it will all come right at rehearsal." "You'll have to tell me how to act then," said Vivian. "How the mischief can a man pretend to be what he isn't? A giant----" "You're as near being a live giant as you can be," declared Nathan. "You've only got to be yourself and you'll be all right." "No," argued Jack Head. "If the man's himself, he's not funny, and nobody will laugh. I say----" "You can show us what you mean when you come to your own part, Jack," said Dennis desperately. "Do get on, Gollop." "Bow then," said Mr. Gollop to Nathan.