We again mounted on our stilts, for the guard had forced us to dismount, or they could not have kissed me, every now and then imitating a dance, until we arrived at the _Grande Place_, where we stopped opposite the hotel, and commenced a sort of waltz which we had practised.

The people in the hotel looked out of the window to see our exhibition, and when we had finished I went up to the windows with O'Brien's cap to collect money.

What was my surprise to perceive Colonel O'Brien looking full in my face, and staring very hard at me;--what was my greater astonishment at seeing Celeste, who immediately recognised me, and ran back to the sofa in the room, putting her hands up to her eyes, and crying out "_C'est lui, c'est lui_!" Fortunately O'Brien was close to me, or I should have fallen, but he supported me.

"Peter, ask the crowd for money, or you are lost." I did so, and collecting some pence, then asked him what I should do.

"Go back to the window--you can then judge of what will happen." I returned to the window; Colonel O'Brien had disappeared, but Celeste was there, as if waiting for me.