At the height of the merriment of a grand ball in an opera house, there
suddenly is heard in an upper tier, a sound as of a violent quarrel,
amidst which uproar such shouts of terrible import as, “Over with him!”
“Turn him out!” “Throw him over!” are distinguishable.
Suddenly a tumultuous group are seen from below to approach the railing,
among the furious combatants of which one figure is seen battling
fiercely. But all his frantic resistance is seen to be useless; his hold
is detached from the seats, and slowly but surely he is bent over the
rail, and—as a cry of horror breaks from the onlookers’ pale lips—is
flung over upon the mass of spellbound revellers beneath.
[Illustration: Fig. 146.]
Dashed to the floor? Dear, no! for his descent is abruptly suspended at
about the height of a man, and he swings calmly above the plumes and
head-dresses.
It was but a puppet with a rope round under the armpits regulated to
prevent it from falling among the people in the pit.
[Illustration]