But to return to the Horse Guards. After Mr. George had finished his conversation with the policeman about the Horse Guards, he said to Rollo that he was going over to the other side of the street, in order to get a better view of the building. So he led the way, and Rollo followed him. When they reached the opposite sidewalk, Mr. George took his station on the margin of it, and began to survey the edifice on the opposite side of the street with great apparent interest. "I don't see any thing very remarkable about it," said Rollo. "It is the head quarters of the British army," said Mr. George. "What elegant black horses those troopers are upon!" said Rollo. "It is the centre of a power," said Mr. George, talking, apparently, to himself, "that is felt in every quarter of the world." "I should like to have such a uniform as that," said Rollo, "and to be mounted on such a horse; but then, I should rather ride about the city than to stand still all the time in one of those sentry boxes." "About the _town_, you mean," said Mr. George. Rollo here observed that there was an open gateway in front of the Horse Guards, and beyond it an arched passage, leading directly through the centre of the building to some place in the rear of it. There were a great many people coming and going through this passage way; so many, in fact, as to make it evident that it was a public thoroughfare. Rollo asked his uncle George where that passage way led to. "It leads to the rear of the Horse Guards," said Mr. George, "where there is a great parade ground, and through the parade ground to Hyde Park. I have studied it out on the map." "Let us go through and see the parade ground," said Rollo. "No," said Mr. George, "not now. We had better go some morning when the troops are parading there. We must go now and look out our lodgings." So Mr. George and Rollo walked on, and about half an hour afterwards Mr. George engaged lodgings in a place near the junction of the Strand with Charing Cross, called Northumberland Court. CHAPTER V. LODGINGS.