FIRST LADY IN PLUSH CLOAK. That was very clever, wasn't it? I can't _imagine_ how it was done! THE M. IN E. D. (_in whom the memory of his desecrated hat is still rankling_). Oh, can't you? Simplest thing in the world--any child could do it! SECOND LADY. What, find the rabbit inside those boxes, when they were all corded up, and sealed! THE M. IN E. D. You don't mean to say you were taken in by _that_! Why, it was another rabbit, of course! FIRST LADY. But even if it _was_ another rabbit, it was wearing the borrowed watch round its neck. THE M. IN E. D. Easy enough to slip the watch in, if all the boxes have false bottoms. SECOND L. Yes, but he passed the boxes round for us to examine. THE M. IN E. D. Boxes--but not _those_ boxes. FIRST L. But how could he slip the watch in when somebody was holding it all the time in a paper bag? THE M. IN E. D. Ah, _I_ saw how it was done--but it would take too long to explain it now. I _have_ seen it so well performed that you _couldn't_ spot it. But this chap's a regular duffer! HERR V. K. (_who finds this sort of thing rather disturbing_). Lyties and Shentilmans, I see zere is von among us who is a brofessional like myself, and knows how all my leedle dricks is done. Now--[_suddenly abandoning his accent_]--I am always griteful for hanythink that will distrack the attention of the orjence from what is going on upon the Stige; naterally so, because it prevents you from follerin' my actions too closely, and so I now call upon this gentleman in the hevenin' dress jest to speak hup a very little louder than what he _'as_ been doin', so that you will be enabled to 'ear hevery word of 'is hexplanation more puffickly than what some of you in the back benches have done itherto. Now, Sir, if you'll kindly repeat your very hinteresting remarks in a more haudible tone, I can go on between like. [_Murmurs of "No no!" "Shut up!" "We don't want to hear him!" from various places_; THE MAN IN EVENING DRESS _subsides into a crimson taciturnity, which continues during the remainder of the performance_. At the Tudor Exhibition. IN THE CENTRAL HALL. _The usual Jocose_ 'ARRY (_who has come here with_ 'ARRIET, _for no very obvious reason, as they neither of them know or care about any history but their own_). Well, I s'pose as we _are_ 'ere, we'd better go in a buster for a book o' the words, eh? (_To_ COMMISSIONAIRE.) What are yer doin' them c'rect guides at, ole man? A shillin'? Not _me_! 'Ere, 'Arriet, we'll make it out for ourselves. A YOUNG MAN (_who has dropped in for five minutes--"just to say he's been, don't you know"_). 'Jove--_my Aunt_! Nip out before she spots me.... Stop, though, suppose she _has_ spotted me? Never can tell with giglamps ... better not risk it. [_Is "spotted" while hesitating._ HIS AUNT. I didn't recognise you till just this moment, John, my boy. I was just wishing I had some one to read out all the extracts in the Catalogue for me; now we can go round together.