BEHIND THE SCENES AT THE CIRCUS. 295 



'' ' Thank yon, sir,' says he. ' I'm very much 

 interested in horses ; ' and he jumped up and 

 sat by my side while I sent them along. 



*' When he got down he gave me a card with 

 something written on it, and told me where to 

 take it, and he thought they'd give me leave, 

 and so they did. We pitched in a beautiful 

 place, and when the people were coming in I 

 saw the gentleman standing among a group 

 of officers. 



" ' There's the gentleman that got me per- 

 mission. I'll go and thank him. Perhaps he'd 

 like to see the performance,' I said. 



" But the sentry shook his head and wouldn't 

 let me pass. 



" ' I want to go and speak to that gentleman,' 

 I told him. ' He was very kind to me, and I've 

 got something to say to him.' 



" Perhaps he didn't understand, but another 

 gentleman standing by says — 



" '■ You must not go there, sir.' 



'' 'Why not?' I asked. 



" ' Why, it's the Emperor.' 



"So it was, too, and I'd given him a ride, 

 and been talking to him quite familiarly. But 

 he saw me, and came to the circus, too, and 

 gave me permission to play when I liked in 

 Paris. I'm the only man that ever had leave to 



