When the Other Professor had recited this Verse, he went across to the fire-place, and put his head up the chimney. In doing this, he lost his balance, and fell head-first into the empty grate, and got so firmly fixed there that it was some time before he could be dragged out again.
Bruno had had time to say "I thought he wanted to see how many peoples was up the chimbley."
And Sylvie had said "Chimneynot chimbley."
And Bruno had said "Don't talk 'ubbish!"
All this, while the Other Professor was being extracted.
"You must have blacked your face!" the Empress said anxiously. "Let me send for some soap?"
"Thanks, no," said the Other Professor, keeping his face turned away. "Black's quite a respectable colour. Besides, soap would be no use without water."
Keeping his back well turned away from the audience, he went on with the Introductory Verses:
