It was found that the only entrance to the body of the hall was
along a narrow ledge against the bare wall some distance from the
floor, which obliged the guests to walk slowly, in single file,
along this precarious strip, giving them the attitudes of an
Egyptian frieze, which was suggested in the original plaster above
them. It is needless to say that, while the effect was ingenious
and striking from the centre of the room, where the Princess stood
with a few personal friends, it was exceedingly uncomfortable to
the figures themselves, in their enforced march along the ledge,--
especially a figure of Sir Midas Pyle's proportions. Suddenly an
exclamation broke from the doctor.
"Do you see," he said to the Princess, pointing to the figure of
the Chevalier, who was filing along with his sinewy hands slightly
turned inward, "how surprisingly like he is to the first attendant
on the King in the real frieze above? And that," added the doctor,
"was none other than 'Arry Axes, the Egyptian you are always
thinking of." And he peered curiously at her.
"Goodness me!" murmured the Princess, in an Arabic much more soft
and fluent than the original gum. "So he does--look like him."
"And do you know you look like him, too? Would you mind taking a
walk around together?"
They did, amid the acclamations of the crowd. The likeness was
perfect.
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