Part 1 (2/2)

”Five minutes,” said Rollo, promptly, standing up erect as he said it and b.u.t.toning his jacket up to his chin.

”Then put on your cap and come with me,” said Mr. George.

Rollo did so. He followed Mr. George down stairs to the door, and they both got into a small carriage which Mr. George had waiting there and drove away together towards Mr. George's hotel.

”Now, Rollo,” said Mr. George, ”I have got a great deal to do to-day, and there are our pa.s.sports to be stamped. I wonder if you could not attend to that.”

”Yes,” said Rollo, ”if you will only tell me what is to be done.”

”I don't myself know what is to be done,” said Mr. George. ”That's the difficulty. And I have not time to find out. I have got as much as I can possibly do until four o'clock; and then the office of the prefecture of police is closed. Now, if you can take the pa.s.sports and find out what is to be done, and _do_ it, then we can go to-morrow; otherwise we must wait till next day.”

”Well,” said Rollo, ”I'll try.”

”You will find the pa.s.sports, then, on my table at the hotel. I am going to get out at the next street and take another carriage to go in another direction. You can keep this carriage.”

”Very well,” said Rollo.

”You may make inquiries of any body you please,” said Mr. George, ”except your father and mother. We must not trouble your father with any business of any kind till he gets entirely well; and your mother would not know any thing about it at all. Perhaps the master of the hotel can tell you. You had better _ask_ him, at any rate.”

Here Mr. George pulled the string for the carriage to stop, as they had arrived at the corner of the street where he was to get out. The coachman drew up to the sidewalk and stopped. Mr. George opened the door and stepped out upon the curbstone, and then said, as he shut the door,--

”Well, good by, Rollo. I hope you will have good luck. But, whatever happens, keep a quiet mind, and don't allow yourself to feel perplexed or troubled. If you don't succeed in getting the pa.s.sports ready to-day we can attend to them to-morrow and then go the next day, which will answer nearly as well.”

Then, directing the coachman to drive to the hotel, Mr. George walked rapidly away.

When Rollo reached the hotel he got the key of his uncle George's room, at the porter's lodge, and went immediately up to see if the pa.s.sports were there. He found them, as his uncle had said, lying on the table.

”Now,” said Rollo, ”the first thing I'll do is to find Carlos and see if he will go and help me get the pa.s.sports stamped.”[1]

So, taking the pa.s.sports in his hand, he went along the corridor till he came to the door leading to the apartments where Carlos lodged. There was a bell hanging by the side of the door. Rollo pulled this cord, and presently the courier came to the door.[2] Rollo inquired for Carlos, and the courier said that he would go and get him. In the mean time the courier asked Rollo to step in and take a seat. So Rollo went in. The room that he entered was a small one, and was used as an antechamber to the apartment; and it was very neatly and pleasantly furnished for such a purpose. There were a sofa and several chairs, and maps and pictures on the walls, and a table with writing materials on it in the centre.

Rollo sat down upon the sofa. In a few minutes Carlos came.

”Look here!” said Rollo, rising when Carlos came in. ”See these pa.s.sports! We're going to get them stamped. Will you go with me? I have got a carriage at the door.”

Here Rollo made a sort of whirling motion with his hand, advancing it forward at the same time as it rolled, to indicate the motion of a wheel. This was to signify to Carlos that they were going in a carriage.

All that Carlos understood was, that Rollo was going somewhere, and that he wished him, Carlos, to go too. He seemed very much pleased with his invitation, and went eagerly back into the inner apartments. He returned in a very few minutes with his cap in his hand, evidently all ready to go.

”Now,” said Rollo, as they went out of the antechamber together, ”the first thing is to go and ask the master of the hotel what we are to do.”

There was a very pleasant little room on the lower floor, on one side of the archway which formed the entrance into the court of the hotel from the street, that served the purpose of parlor, sitting room, counting room, and office. Thus it was used both by the master of the hotel himself and by his family. There was a desk at one side, where the master usually sat, with his books and papers before him. At the other side, near a window, his wife was often seated at her sewing; and there were frequently two or three little children playing about the floor with little wagons, or tops, or other toys. Rollo went to this room, occupying himself as he descended the stairs in trying to make up a French sentence that would ask his question in the shortest and simplest manner.

He went in, and, going to the desk, held out his pa.s.sports to the man who was sitting there, and said, in French,--

”Pa.s.sports. To Switzerland. Where to go to get them stamped?”

”Ah,” said the master of the hotel, taking the pa.s.sports in his hand.

”Yes, yes, yes. You must get them stamped. You must go to the Swiss legation and to the prefecture of police.”

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