Switzerland -- Description and travel -- Juvenile literature
"He says that you must go first and get your passports stamped at the
American legation and afterwards come here."
"Where is the American legation?" said Rollo.
"I don't know," said the girl.
"Then I'll make the coachman find it for me," said Rollo. "Come, Carlos;
we must go back."
So saying, he thanked the girl for her kindness, and the two boys went
out. As he was going out Rollo made up a French sentence to say to the
coachman that he must drive to the American legation, and that he must
find out where it was himself. He succeeded in communicating these
directions to the coachman, and then he and Carlos got into the carriage
and drove away.
The coachman had some difficulty in learning where the American legation
was, which occasioned some delay. Besides, the distance was
considerable. It was nearly two miles to the place from the prefecture
of police; so that it was some time before the carriage arrived there.
In fact, Rollo had a very narrow escape in this stage of the affair; for
he arrived at the American legation only about five minutes before the
office was to be closed for the day. When he went to the porter's lodge
to ask if that was the place where the office of the American legation
was held, the woman who kept the lodge, and who was standing just
outside the door at the time, instead of answering, went in to look at
the clock.
"Ah," said she, "you are just in time. I thought you were too late.
Second story, right-hand door."
"There's one thing good about the American legation, Carlos," said
Rollo; "and that is, that they can talk English, I suppose."
This was, indeed, a great advantage. Rollo found, when he went into the
office of the legation, that the secretary not only could talk English,
but that he was a very kindhearted and agreeable man. He talked with
Rollo in English and with Carlos in Spanish. Both the boys were very
much pleased with the reception they met with. The necessary stamps were
promptly affixed to the passports; and then the boys, giving the
secretary both an English and a Spanish good by, went down stairs to the
carriage again. They directed the coachman to drive as quick as possible
to the Swiss legation, showing him the address which Rollo's uncle had
given them. They then got into the carriage, and the coachman drove
away.
"Now, Carlos," said Rollo, "we are all right; that is, if we only get to
the Swiss legation before it is shut up."
"He said he had been in Madrid," rejoined Carlos. "He was there three
months."
"I believe," added Rollo, "that uncle George said it did not close till
three; and it is only two now."
"And he knew the street my father lived in very well," said Carlos.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account