usually five
persons in that part of the coach--the coachman, the conductor, and
three passengers. That is, there will be one passenger besides you and
me. He will probably be talking with the conductor part of the time, and
the conductor will be talking with the coachman, and we shall be amused
by hearing what they say."

"But there are _six_ persons in the interior," said Rollo, "to talk."

"True," replied Mr. George; "but, then, they are usually not so sociable
there as they are up on the banquette. Besides, the noise of the wheels
on the hard gravel roads is so loud there that we cannot hear very well.
Then, moreover, when we stop to change horses, the hostlers and
postilions come out, and our coachman and conductor often have a great
deal of amusing conversation with them, which we can hear from the
banquette; but we could not hear it, or see the process of harnessing
and unharnessing, from the interior, nor even very well from the
coupe."

"Well," said Rollo. "I like that. But that makes only three advantages.
You said there were four."

"Yes," said Mr. George. "But as to the fourth, I do not know whether you
will consider it an advantage or not."

"What is it?" said Rollo. "I've no doubt but I shall."

"Why, in getting up and down to and from the banquette you will have a
great deal of hard climbing to do."

"Yes," said Rollo. "I shall like that. They are all advantages--very
great advantages indeed."

So Rollo fully determined in his own mind that he would take places on
the banquette. He thought that there was one disadvantage in that part
of the coach; and that was, that in case of storm the rain would drive
in directly upon them; but he found in the end that an excellent
provision was made against this contingency.

The young gentlemen had now finished their breakfasts; and so they rose
and went out to what Rollo called the gallery, to see the embossed map
of Switzerland which he said that he had seen hanging there. The plan of
this hotel was very peculiar. In the centre of it was a very large,
open hall, almost like a court, only it was covered above with a roof
and lighted by a skylight. Around this hall there was, in each story, an
open gallery, with a railing on one side, over which you could look down
to the floor below; and on the other side, at short intervals, there
were doors leading to the various apartments. Between these doors, and
against the walls, were hanging maps, plans, pictures,