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Book, page 141 / 298 son (for such was the name of the lady who stood beside him) had earned the esteem of the whole civilised world. And here in Oxford, and in this College especially, she had a peculiar claim to -- might he say? -- their affectionate regard, inas- much as she was the grand-daughter of their ven- erable and venerated Warden. As the Duke ceased, there came from his hear- ers a sound like the rustling of leaves. In return for it, Zuleika performed that graceful act of subsidence to the verge of collapse which is usually kept for the delectation of some royal per- son. And indeed, in the presence of this doomed congress, she did experience humility; for she was not altogether without imagination. But, as she arose from her "bob," she was her own bold self again, bright mistress of the situation. It was impossible for her to give her entertain- ment in full. Some of her tricks (notably the Secret Aquarium, and the Blazing Ball of Wor- sted) needed special preparation, and a table fitted with a "servante" or secret tray. The table for to-night's performance was an ordinary one, brought out from the porter's lodge. The Mac- Quern deposited on it the great casket. Zuleika, retaining him as her assistant, picked nimbly out from their places and put in array the curious appurtenances of her art -- the Magic Canister, the Demon Egg-Cup, and the sundry other vessels which, lost property of young Edward Gibbs, had ZULEIKA DOBSON 169 been by a Romanoff transmuted from wood to gold, and were now by the moon reduced tempor- arily to silver. In a great dense semicircle the young men dis- posed themselves around her. Those who were
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