in the evening."

"Of course you can do as you think best; but I advise you to be cautious
with them. They may get into trouble in a strange city, or get lost. If
some of them can't speak French any better than they did at supper, they
will have to go to the watch-house, because they can't ask the way
back."

"They can say _Hotel Royal_. None of my crew have ever got into trouble
since the ship's company was organized," added Paul, who wanted to go
out himself, and could not deny to others what he took himself.

The permission was given to walk till eleven o'clock, but the boys were
admonished to behave properly, and to return punctually. Lynch and
Grossbeck, who still clung together as fast friends, left the hotel in
company.

"This is jolly--isn't it?" said Lynch, as they passed out of the Rue
Fosse aux Loups into the Place de la Monnaie, a small square in front of
the Theatre Royal.

"For less than an hour," added Grossbeck, gloomily.

"We don't understand French, and so we can't tell what time it is,"
laughed Lynch.

"That won't go down. We were told to be back at eleven."

"But if we don't know what time it is, we can't be tied to the
bell-rope."

"No use; the captain knows the boom from the bobstay, and if he isn't a
Knight of the Golden Fleece, you can't pull wool over his eyes. You know
he put McDougal through this morning."

"Well, come along. We'll have a good time while it does last," replied
Lynch, apparently appalled by recalling the summary treatment of his
shipmate.

"Everybody seems to be having a good time here," said Grossbeck, as they
passed a _cafe_, in front of which were a great number of small tables,
at which gentlemen were drinking, smoking, and carrying on noisy
conversation. "I don't see any reason why we should not. What are they
drinking there?"

"Beer, or wine, I suppose," answered Lynch, as he led the way he knew
not whither, turning to the left, because the street in that direction
looked more lively than the others.

There was nothing to be seen, as most of the shops were closed; but they
continued on their way till they came to a kind of arcade, a building
which contained a broad passage-way, opening from the street, with a
large number of little shops on either side.

The interior was brilliantly lighted, and most of the small stores were
devoted to fancy goods and other showy articles. The young seamen
entered the arcade, in which many people were promenading.

"