Doubtless she felt flattered by the consciousness of attracting even the sovereign's glance, but what she intended to do immediately was for the purpose of compelling another person to watch her steps with fear and admiration.
Crossing her feet, she threw back her garlanded head and drew a long breath.

Then she hastily straightened herself, and with the bird cage in one hand and the winged staff of Mercury, which the clown had handed to her, in the other, she advanced to the centre of the rope.

There she opened the cage as steadily as if she had been standing on the floor of her own room.

The birds fluttered through the little door and went, with a swift flight, directly to their goal.

Then, below and beside her, from every place occupied by spectators, and from hundreds of windows, rose thunders of applause; but it seemed to her as if the roaring of the surging sea was in her ears.