Of course, M.van Zant accepted; and since then this Senor Sperati has travelled everywhere with us, has had the entree like one of us, and his friend, the bad rider, has fairly bewitched my stepmother, for she is ever with him, ever with them both, and--and--Ah, mon Dieu! the lion smiles, and my people die! Why does it 'smile' for no others?
Why is it only they--my father, my brother--they alone ?" "Is that a fact ?" said Cleek, turning to young Scarmelli.

"You say that all connected with the circus have so little fear of the beast that even attendants sometimes do this foolhardy trick.

Does the lion never 'smile' for any of those ?" "Never, Mr.Cleek--never under any circumstances.

Nor does it always smile for the chevalier and his son.

That is the mystery of it.