e penalty for my lack of discretion. If therefore
you would give these five sovereigns to some charitable institution in
Vienna, and use some effort to find my passport, you will lay me under
a great obligation."

The great official said he would do so, and the English sovereigns
chinked in his capacious vest-pocket.

"And now, if the Herr will go to his hotel, all Vienna shall be
searched. The passport cannot be lost, and in a few hours it shall be
in his hands."

Free! It was the only time I was ever under lock and key, but I shall
never forget the exhilarating delight of that moment.

I had hardly gone twenty rods when I remembered that the boat left at
five o'clock, and I thought that I would return and tell the
commissaire to hurry up.

As I opened the door of the bureau I saw him deliberately take from a
pigeon-hole my passport, and handing it to the agent, say, "Here, take
this stupid Englishman his passport!"

"Sir," I said, stepping forward, "I will relieve you of the trouble."

Not a blush, not an apology. With a profusion of compliments and hopes
for my _bon voyage_, the commisaaire graciously bowed me out, and with
all haste I sought the Hotel d'Hollande.

The fiacre was just driving up to the door as I arrived. I saw it all
in one moment. _The boy was not there._

I questioned the driver and passengers. It appeared that Jules had left
the carriage shortly after my departure, and as three hours had elapsed
before their return to Vienna, they concluded that he had joined me.

My excitement threw the landlord into a further convulsion of
hand-rubbing and general perplexity.

"Get me a strong saddle horse," I impetuously demanded.

"It shall be at the door in five minutes. Will not the Herr dine before
he leaves?"

"Dine! No; but let me have a flask of brandy."

Out through the paved streets to the plain. I scoured the whole country
round, peered into every carriage, searched every bush and brier, rode
up and down the neighboring lanes and highways, inquired of all I met,
and only trotted back to Vienna when darkness came on and my jaded
horse could hardly bear me home.

Then I ate and drank, and, taking a caleche, visited every police
station and hospital in Vienna. All in vain; and at three o'clock in
the morning I threw myself on my bed to snatch a few hours' sleep ere
my search should be again renewed.

I will not dwell upon the horrors of that time. Day succeeded day, and
nearly a week