The  appearance  of  the  conjuror  was  peculiar.  He
was  not  much  more  than  five  feet  high,  but  so
slightly  formed  that  he  reminded  you  rather  of  the
boy  than  the  dwarf.  The  upper  part  of  his  face  was
even  delicately  moulded;  his  sparkling  black  eyes  be-
came his  round  forehead,  which  was  not  too  much
covered  by  his  short  glossy  black  hair;  his  complexion
was  clear,  but  quite  olive;  his  nose  was  very  small
and  straight,  and  contrasted  singularly  with  his  enor-
mous mouth,  the  thin  bluish  lips  of  which  were
seldom  closed,  and  consequently  did  not  conceal  his
large  square  teeth,  which,  though  very  white,  were
set  apart,  and  were  so  solid  that  they  looked  almost
like  double  teeth.  This  enormous  mouth,  which  was
supported  by  large  jawbones,  attracted  the  attention  of
the  spectator  so  keenly  that  it  was  some  time  before
you  observed  the  prodigious  size  of  the  ears,  which
also  adorned  this  extraordinary  countenance.  The
costume  of  this  being  was  not  less  remarkable  than
his  natural  appearance.  He  wore  a  complete  under-
dress  of  pliant  leather,  which  fitted  close  up  to  his
throat  and  down  to  his  wrists  and  ankles,  where  it
was  clasped  with  large  fastenings,  either  of  gold  or
some  gilt  material.  This,  with  the  addition  of  a
species  of  hussar  jacket  of  green  cloth,  which  was
quite  unadorned  with  the  exception  of  its  vivid  red
lining,  was  the  sole  covering  of  the  conjuror;  who,
with  a  light  cap  and  feather  in  his  hand,  was  now


268  BENJAMIN    DISRAELI

haranguing  the  spectators.  The  object  of  his  dis-
course was  a  panegyric  of  himself  and  a  satire  on  all
other  conjurors.  He  was  the  only  conjuror,  the  real
one,  a  worthy  descendant  of  the  magicians  of  old.
