But Nero, the lion, was perhaps the greatest surprise of all, for so tame, so docile, so little feared was the animal, that its cage-door was open, and they found one of the attendants squatting cross-legged inside and playing with it as though it were a kitten.
"There he is, doctor," said the chevalier, waving his hand towards the beast.

"Ah, I will not believe that it was anything but an accident, sir.

He loved my boy.

He would hurt no one that is kind to him.

Fetch him out, Tom, and let the doctor see him at close quarters." Despite all these assurances of the animal's docility, Cleek could not but remember what the creature had done, and, in consequence, did not feel quite at ease when it came lumbering out of the cage with the attendant and ranged up alongside of him, rubbing its huge head against the chevalier's arm after the manner of an affectionate cat.
"Don't be frightened, sir," said Tom, noticing this.