How long he had been asleep he did not know, but he was roused suddenly by a touch. Opening his eyes, he saw a man fumbling at his watch-chain. The man, who was a stout and unprepossessing-looking man of about thirty-five, wearing a blouse, jumped back with a hasty, confused exclamation. "What are you doing?" demanded Ben, suspiciously. He spoke first in English, but, remembering himself, repeated the question in French. "Pardon, monsieur," said the man, looking uncomfortable. Ben's glance fell on his chain and the watch, which had slipped from his pocket, and he understood that the man had been trying to steal his watch. In spite of his poverty and need of money he had not yet parted with the watch, though he suspected the time would soon come when he should be compelled to do so. "You were trying to steal my watch," said Ben, severely. "No, monsieur, you are wrong," answered the tramp, for that was what he would be called in America. "How came my watch out of the pocket, and why were you leaning over me?" continued Ben. "I wanted to see what time it was," answered the man, after a minute's hesitation. "I think it is fortunate I awoke when I did," said Ben. His new acquaintance did not choose to notice the significance of the words. "Monsieur," he said, "I am a poor man. Will you help me with a few sous?" Ben could not help laughing. It seemed too ridiculous that any one should ask money of him. He took the two-sous piece from his pocket. "Do you see that?" he asked. "Yes, monsieur." "It is all the money I have." The man looked incredulous. "And yet monsieur is well dressed, and has a gold watch." "Still I am as poor as you, for I am more than three thousand miles from home, and have not money enough to get there, even if I sell my watch." "Where does monsieur live?" asked the tramp, looking interested. "In America." "Will monsieur take my advice?" "If it is good." "There is a rich American gentleman at the Hotel de la Couronne, in Lyons. He would, perhaps, help monsieur." The idea struck Ben favorably. This gentleman could, at any rate, give him advice, and he felt that he needed it. "How far is Lyons away?" "Scarcely a league." "Straight ahead?" "Yes, monsieur." "Then I will go there." "And I, too. I will guide monsieur." "Thank you. I will reward you, if I have the means." CHAPTER XXXII. A STRANGE MEETING. The Hotel de la Couronne is situated in one of the finest parts of Lyons. As Ben stood before it, he began to doubt whether he had not better go away with his errand undone. After all, this American gentleman, if there were one in the hotel, would be likely to feel very little interest in a destitute boy claiming to be a fellow-countryman. He might even look upon him as a designing rogue, with a fictitious story of misfortune, practising upon his credulity. Ben's cheek flushed at the mere thought that he might be so regarded.