walked to the tavern, and delivered my satchel to the custody of a
rough-looking animal, whom I subsequently found to be landlord, hostler,
bar-tender, table-waiter, and general manager-at-all-work. He was a very
uninviting subject; but, being myself courteously inclined, and having
also a brisk eye to business, I inquired if there was a public hall or
lecture-room in the place.

'I've got a dance-hall up-stairs. Be you a showman?'

I said I was a lecturer by profession, and asked if churches were ever
used for such purposes in Sidon.

'Never heard of any. 'Ain't got no church. Be you goin' to lecter?'

I replied that I thought some of it, and inquired if it was common to
use his hall for lectures.

'Wal, Sidon ain't much of a place for shows anyhow. When they is any, I
git 'em in, if they ain't got no tent o' their own.'

I would look at the hall.

We went up a rickety stairway, into a dingy room. The plaster had fallen
from the ceiling in several places, and the room had a mouldy smell.
There was a platform at one end, where the musicians sat when saltatory
_fêtes_ were held, and on this I mounted to 'take a view.' I didn't feel
called upon to admire the hall in audible terms; but as I stood there an
inspiring scene arose before my mental vision--a scene of up-turned
faces, each representing the sum of fifteen cents, that being the
regular swindle for getting into shows round here, the landlord said. I