Yellow-cap was going to ask, 'Where?' but Gyp laid his hand upon his arm and whispered in his ear that he must not interrupt until the whole verse had run itself out. 'We have seen him,' continued Dubb. 'The likeness is good,' pronounced Dubsix. 'Flattering,' affirmed Menin. 'I can think of nothing to say,' confessed Atub. 'Come and look in our mirror,' said Gyp, taking Yellow-cap by the arm and leading him to the end of the room. Now, against the wall at this end hung a very odd specimen of a looking-glass. Its surface was convex, and in shape it was neither square, nor round, nor exactly oval, for it was pointed at both ends. Its length was divided into three parts, of which the central one was black, and those at the sides of a dull white like china. Altogether it looked like a gigantic eye plucked from the forehead of some Polyphemus; and hung up in the old inn-parlour, where, if it could no longer see anything itself, it might at least give those who gazed into it a distorted image of themselves. When Yellow-cap, however, first fixed his eyes upon this curious mirror he could see nothing but a profound depth of blackness; but in the midst of this obscure movements were presently visible. By and by the many wavering shapes grew clearer and drew near to one another and, as it were, melted together, until at last a definite image stood forth against the dark background. A strange figure it was--of a short-legged, shapeless man, with no less than seven heads upon his shoulders. Six of these Yellow-cap knew at once; but the seventh--the central and most important one of all--was unknown to him. And what an unpleasant set of features it had, to be sure! The whole company had gathered behind Yellow-cap, who was standing directly in front of the mirror. 'You don't know him?' spoke the voice of Ruba. 'He knows you,' said Dubb. 'He is an old friend of yours,' remarked Dubsix. 'And a very dear one,' added Menin. 'And a very false one,' observed Atub. 'What does it all mean?' inquired Yellow-cap. 'If you will give yourself the trouble to lay your left finger beside your nose it might inform you,' said Gyp courteously. Yellow-cap did as he was desired. The reflection in the glass lifted the corresponding finger and laid it beside the nose of no other than the central head. 'Would you mind winking your left eye?' continued Gyp. Yellow-cap did so. The central head alone winked back. 'Now you might stick out your tongue,' suggested Gyp. Yellow-cap tried this experiment also: the seventh head was the only one that imitated the gesture. 'This is absurd,' exclaimed Yellow-cap indignantly. 'The central head imitates everything I do; it even pretends to look like me, which is ridiculous, for it is ugly, while I am----' 'Perhaps you have never looked in a mirror before?' said Gyp gently. 'Yes, I have--in tin pans,' returned Yellow-cap warmly.