"Leave her alone!" Kroon thundered at the clown. "And get out of here!"

Pietro glared at his employer. It was evident that his fondness for the girl overshadowed obedience to the ringmaster. He stood still, speaking in low tones to Lolita. Finally, Kroon yanked the clown up by his big ruffled collar and sent him sprawling to the tanbark. Turning back to Lolita, the harsh manager cried:

"Stand up!"

This time the girl obeyed, rising slowly and stepping to the edge of the net, where she was helped down by attendants. Lolita took bow after bow amid tumultuous applause, but Nancy felt that the girl was using all of her will power to remain on her feet.

As Lolita left the tent, Kroon hurried into the ring. "And so," he said, "Cinderella lost her prince. But only temporarily! If you want to see how he found her by matching the glass slipper she wore, come to this evening's performance. Reserve your seats on the way out! And now, our next act—"

Teddy tugged at Nancy's shoulder to get her attention. "But Cinderella didn't wear any glass slippers," he remarked. "What did the man mean?"

"Maybe the prince has them," Nancy suggested.

George whispered to her, "Nancy, do you think this was just a come-on, or couldn't Lolita finish the act?"

"I'm afraid she's ill, George. I'll find out when I meet Pietro."

The last act was a clever bareback riding performance with a triumphant final pageant which included the clowns. As soon as it was over, Nancy asked George to take Teddy home, then started for King Kat's cage to meet the circus clown.

The shaggy lion was stalking back and forth restlessly. "How handsome, but how cruel he looks!" Nancy thought. "Just like the ringmaster."

Pietro was waiting and beckoned her to follow him a short distance away from the cage. The clown seemed very ill at ease, almost frightened, as he said: