Their wardrobe too is
of the very simplest description. When they play a piece in which kings
and queens appear, they borrow the gold bespangled dresses of the rich
Servian women of the district to serve them as royal mantles. All they
require besides is a little tinsel, some spangles and some
pasteboard--and there you are! The manager, as I have said, is still but
a child, but so ingenious is he that he can make moonshine out of a
yellow gourd and produce thunder and lightning,--but that is a
professional secret. It is true they have only six pieces in all, and
when they have played these through they begin them all over again. The
public, naturally, does not like to see the same piece twice, so the
manager gives the piece another title, changes the titles of all the
characters and represents the piece over again as a brand new one."
"I should like to see to-day's representation," said Szilard, whose
curiosity had been excited by this peculiar description.
"I'll fetch your honour a play bill immediately," said the innkeeper.
Off went mine host returning in a few moments with a MS. play bill on
which was written in large red letters: "Hernani or Castilian Honour,"
followed by the names of the personages. Hernani was naturally the
manager himself, Leander Baberossy,[39] Elvira was to be played by Miss
Palmira, the other gentlemen were simply indicated by N.
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