After going a long way, and walking for a quarter of an hour, the party came upon another staircase; and, having descended this, found itself once more surrounded by the drawings.

Then despair took possession of them as they wandered at random through long halls, following Monsieur Madinier, who was furious and mopping the sweat from his forehead.

He accused the government of having moved the doors around.

Museum guards and visitors looked on with astonishment as the procession, still in a column of couples, passed by.

They passed again through the Salon Carre, the French Gallery and then along the cases where minor Eastern divinities slumbered peacefully.