ut they wouldn't be a particle of use to a
scoundrel like you, I assure you! Good morning."

Before the surprised and baffled scientist could collect himself
sufficiently to reply, the boy was soaring far above his head and
searching for a convenient place to alight, that he might investigate
the charms of this famed city of Paris.

It was indeed a beautiful place, with many stately buildings lining the
shady boulevards. So thronged were the streets that Rob well knew he
would soon be the center of a curious crowd should he alight upon them.
Already a few sky-gazers had noted the boy moving high in the air,
above their heads, and one or two groups stood pointing their fingers
at him.

Pausing at length above the imposing structure of the Hotel Anglais,
Rob noticed at one of the upper floors an open window, before which was
a small iron balcony. Alighting upon this he proceeded to enter,
without hesitation, the open window. He heard a shriek and a cry of
"AU VOLEUR!" and caught sight of a woman's figure as she dashed into an
adjoining room, slamming and locking the door behind her.

"I don't know as I blame her," observed Rob, with a smile at the panic
he had created. "I s'pose she takes me for a burglar, and thinks I've
climbed up the lightning rod."

He soon found the door leading into the hallway and walked down several
flights of stairs until he reached the office of the hotel.

"How much do you charge a day?" he inquired, addressing a fat and
pompous-looking gentlemen behind the desk.

The man looked at him in a surprised way, for he had not heard the boy
enter the room. But he said something in French to a waiter who was
passing, and the latter came to Rob and made a low bow.

"I speak ze Eengliss ver' fine," he said. "What desire have you?"

"What are your rates by the day?" asked the boy.

"Ten francs, M'sieur."

"How many dollars is that?"

"Dollar Americaine?"

"Yes; United States money."

"Ah, OUI! Eet is ze two dollar, M'sieur."

"All right; I can stay about a day before I go bankrupt. Give me a
room."

"CERTAINEMENT, M'sieur. Have you ze luggage?"

"No; but I'll pay in advance," said Rob, and began counting out his
dimes and nickles and pennies, to the unbounded amazement of the
waiter, who looked as if he had never seen such coins before.

He carried the money to the fat gentleman, who examined the pieces
curiously, and there was a long conference between them before it was