Part 22 (1/2)
”And the plotters against the government, too, I suppose,” said Rollo.
”Yes,” said Mr. George, ”sometimes.”
This conversation took place while Mr. George and Rollo were walking towards the steamboat office, to take their pa.s.sages to Ma.r.s.eilles.
They arrived at the office. The clerk answered their inquiries in respect to the steamer with great politeness. The conversation was in the French language. He told them that the steamer started from Naples every evening, and that it stopped in the morning about eight o'clock at Civita Vecchia[9] to take in the pa.s.sengers from Rome. It was necessary for the pa.s.sengers to go from Rome to Civita Vecchia by diligence, or by post, or with a vetturino.
[Footnote 9: p.r.o.nounced _Tchivita Vekkia_.]
”Then there are no carriages from your office,” said Mr. George.
”No, sir,” replied the clerk. ”We take the pa.s.sengers at Civita Vecchia.
They find their own conveyances there.”
”Very well,” said Mr. George. ”I will take two berths in the steamer for Thursday morning. Can I see a plan of the steamer so as to select the berths?”
”No, sir,” said the clerk, ”we have no plan of the steamer. And besides, we cannot positively promise you any berths. It depends upon how many pa.s.sengers there are from Naples. The pa.s.sengers from Rome take the berths that are left vacant. They take them in the order in which they take pa.s.sage here.”
”Are there many that have taken pa.s.sage before us?” asked Mr. George.
”No, sir,” said the clerk, ”only two. Your numbers are 3 and 4.”
”Then, if there are more than two berths that are not occupied by the Naples pa.s.sengers, we can have them?”
”Yes, sir,” said the clerk.
”And suppose there are not more than two,” asked Rollo, ”what shall we do then?”
”Why, then you will have sofas or cots,” said the clerk.
”O, that will do just as well,” said Rollo. ”I would as lief have a sofa or a cot as a berth.”
So Mr. George paid the money, and took tickets numbers 3 and 4, and then, having inquired the way to the diligence office, they bade the clerk good morning, and went away.
”And now,” said Mr. George, ”we must go directly to the diligence office, and secure our places for Civita Vecchia. If we put it off, the places might all be taken, and then we should lose the pa.s.sage money we have paid for the steamer.”
”Would not they pay us back again?” asked Rollo.
”I am afraid not,” said Mr. George. ”But I think we are in season, for it is now Tuesday, and we do not sail till Thursday.”
On entering the diligence office, Mr. George saw one or two clerks standing behind a counter. They seemed busy talking with persons who had come in to engage places, and entering their names in great books. As soon as one of the clerks was at liberty Mr. George accosted him, saying that he wished to get two places in the diligence for Civita Vecchia on Wednesday.
The clerk looked at the book, and said that all the places were taken for Wednesday, except one.
”That's bad,” said Mr. George. ”We shall have to go down on Tuesday, then, and stay a day at Civita Vecchia. Are there any places for Tuesday?”
The clerk looked, and said that every place for Tuesday was engaged.
”But there is a coach on Wednesday night,” he added, ”that arrives at Civita Vecchia in the morning in time for the steamer.”