"Studying German!" cried Buttons, with a laugh. "Who is she?" "Madame Bang." [Illustration: Here I Invite My Friends.] "Bang? Well, Madame Bang must look out for another lodger. You must come with me, young man. You need a guardian. It's well that I came in time to rescue you. Let's be off!" And the two youths descended and were soon lost in the crowd. *** "Three flights of steps are bad enough; but great Heavens! what do you mean by taking a fellow up to the eighth story?" Such was the exclamation of Dick as he fell exhausted into a seat in a little room at the top of one of the tallest houses in Paris. "Economy, my dear boy." "Ehem!" "Paris is overflowing, and I could get no other place without paying an enormous price. Now I am trying to husband my means." "I should think so." "I sleep here--" "And have plenty of bedfellows." "I eat here--" "The powers of the human stomach are astounding." "And here I invite my friends." "Friends only. I should think. Nothing but the truest friendship could make a man hold out in such an ascent." "But come. What are your plans?" "I have none." "Then you must league yourself with me." "I shall be delighted." "And I'm going to Italy." "Then I'm afraid our league is already at an end." "Why?" "I haven't money enough." "How much have you?" "Only five hundred dollars; I've spent all the rest of my allowance." "Five hundred? Why, man, I have only four hundred." "What! and you're going to Italy?" "Certainly." "Then I'll go too and run the risk. But is this the style?" and Dick looked dolefully around. "By no means--not always. But you must practice economy." "Have you any acquaintances?" "Yes, two. We three have formed ourselves into a society for the purpose of going to Italy. We call ourselves the Dodge Club." "The Dodge Club?" "Yes. Because our principle is to dodge all humbugs and swindles, which make travelling so expensive generally. We have gained much experience already, and hope to gain more. One of my friends is a doctor from Philadelphia, Doctor Snakeroot, and the other is Senator Jones from Massachusetts. Neither the Doctor nor the Senator understands a word of any language but the American. That is the reason why I became acquainted with them.