"Excuse me, sir, but I am a stranger here and would like to ask a little
information in regard to what may be seen that is really worth looking
at."

At that there was a general laugh among the other spectators, and an
exchange of glances that seemed to say he must be either very blind or
extremely simple.

Walter did not seem to notice, however, but went on: "Are the upper floors
open to visitors, sir? and are there refreshments served there, or in any
other part of the building?"

At that the laugh among the people in the room and about the doorway grew
louder,--it seemed so good a joke that anyone should take those wax
figures for living people--and a burly German, taking pity on Walter's
stupidity, said; "Mine frient, dose vos vax beobles, ha, ha, ha! dey don't
can't say nodings."

With that the laughter grew louder, and another German, evidently
good-naturedly desirous to relieve Walter's embarrassment, spoke, turning
as he did so to the first speaker:

"Dat vasn't no sign de young shentlemans vas dumb; he don't can't help it;
he t'ot dey vas life beoples."

"Nefer you mine dose silly fellows, young shentleman, dey doan' know
noddings."

The words seemed to come from the lips of the waxen man, and struck the