‘Do you by any chance want to go to Riga? If so, take your passage by us.’ ‘Certainly, I want to go to Riga; but how is a poor man like me to go in the steamboat? That costs a great deal, it is not made for the like of us.’ ‘Why not; come along. A _moujik_ like you won’t be asked to pay a great deal.’ ‘How much?’ He named a sum, which I do not remember, but which astonished me at the time as being really very moderate. ‘Well, will that suit you? What are you hesitating about now?’ ‘I only came here to-day, and the Police must _viser_ my passport.’ ‘Then, let me tell you, you will have a three days’ job of it with your Police, and our steamer sails to-morrow morning.’ ‘What can I do then?’ ‘Go without having it _visé_, to be sure.’ ‘Bah! suppose I get into trouble?’ ‘Idiot! Here is a _moujik_ setting up to teach me! Have you got your passport with you? Let us see it.’ I drew from my pocket the pass which I kept carefully wrapped in a silk handkerchief, after the Russian plan; but the man did not even give himself the trouble of looking at it. ‘Come to-morrow, at seven o’clock in the morning, and if you don’t find me here, wait for me; and now be off as quick as you can.’ I returned joyously to my lodgings, and on the following morning I was punctual to my appointment. Steam was already got up; my man perceived me, and said simply, ‘Pay your money.’ He then left me, and returned with a yellow ticket, of which I naturally pretended to ignore the signification. This extracted a second notice, as follows, ‘Hold your tongue, _moujik_, and let us manage.’ The bell rang three times, the barrier was opened, the passengers pressed and hurried in, while a rude shove from my friend sent me in along with the others. Some moments after the paddles went round, we were in motion; and I was as one that dreamed. CHAPTER X. THE RETURN TO PARIS. THE MOUJIK’S PASSAGE--LITHUANIA--THE PRUSSIAN FRONTIER--KÖNIGSBERG--ARREST AND CAPTIVITY--BAIL--FLIGHT--ARRIVAL IN PARIS--THE END.