This remark being lost on the official, I explain to him as well as I
can what is wanted, at first,--two places in the coupe.
"One is taken," is his reply.
"The gentleman will take two," I said, having in mind the diligence
in the yard, with three places in the coupe.
"One is taken," he repeats.
"Then the gentleman will take the other two."
"One is taken!" he cries, jumping up and smiting the table,--"one
is taken, I tell you!"
"How many are there in the coupe?"
"TWO."
"Oh! then the gentleman will take the one remaining in the coupe and
the one on top."
So it is arranged. When I come back to the hotel, the Americans are
explaining to the lively waiter "who speaks English" that they are to
go in the diligence at half-past five, and that they are to be called
at half-past four and have breakfast. He knows all about it,
--"Diligence, half-past four breakfast, Oh, yaas!" While I have been
at the diligence-office, my companions have secured room and gone to
them; and I ask the waiter to show m to my room. First, however, I
tell him that we three two ladies and myself, who came together, are
going in the diligence at half-past five, and want to be called and
have breakfast. Did he comprehend?
"Yaas," rolling his face about on the top of his head violently.
"You three gentleman want breakfast.
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