The last act seemed to drag, and it was only for the sake of witnessing the holocaust at the end that he sat it out.

Even the varying "expressions" assumed by Sardanapalus failed to arouse his enthusiasm.

He reproached himself for this, for poor Buskin rolled his eyes and twisted his mouth and pulled such lugubrious faces that Austin felt how pathetic it all was, and how hard the man was trying to work upon the feelings of the audience.

But the flare-up at the end was really very creditable.

Blue fire, red fire, and clouds of smoke filled the entire stage, and when Myrrha clambered up the burning pile to share the fate of her paramour the enthusiasm of the spectators knew no bounds.