The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

How do the king and the duke boost attendance for the Royal Nonesuch?

Chapter 23

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The Royal Nonesuch opens to a house packed with men. The Duke greets them and hypes up the audience for the King. The King emerges completely naked, covered in paint, and crawling on all fours. The audience laughs their heads off, and he is called back to do it twice more. Then the Duke thanks them all and wishes them a good night.

The men are furious that the show is so short and realize they have been "sold," or cheated. But, before they can rush the stage in protest, one man stands up and tells them that they will be the laughingstocks of the town if it ever is revealed how badly they were cheated. They all agree to leave and tout the show for being wonderful so the rest of the town can be cheated as well.

Source(s)

http://www.gradesaver.com/the-adventures-of-huckleberry-finn/study-guide/section5/