bowed and smiled, as the lads observed he had bowed and smiled at
several persons before, while he went on making notes in his book.
Perhaps he did not understand a word Mr Evergreen said, or, what is
very probable, he was not listening to what did not concern him, but was
habitually too polite to let this be discovered. Mr Evergreen had then
to sign his name several times in a book, and then the Baron bowed very
politely, handed him his passport to take it to the passport office and
various police offices, to be signed and countersigned again and again.
Mr Evergreen on this bowed to the Baron, and the Baron bowed again.
Mr Evergreen would have continued bowing before so great and benignant
a personage had not the Baron summoned our friends to approach, Mr
Evergreen meantime waiting for them.

They quickly got through the business, and the Baron gave a bow to
Cousin Giles, which, if not so profound as those he gave to Mr
Evergreen, was much more cordial, and seemed to say: "We understand each
other; you are a man I can trust."

When they got outside the door, Mr Evergreen was loud in his praises of
Baron Verysoft.

"Nice, charming man!" he exclaimed; "so civil, so kind to me. Don't you
think I ought to ask him to dinner, now? It would be but a proper
attention in return for his civility."

"He would have to fulfil a very large number of dinner engagements if
all thought as you do; but I suspect few people are so grateful for his
attentions," answered Cousin Giles.

It was some time before Mr Evergreen could be persuaded to give up his
idea.

"The credit of our country is at stake," said he. "Well, well, I
suppose I must do as you advise, and let the Baron form his own
conclusions of us."

After all, the terrible passport work was got through with much less
trouble and expense than Cousin Giles was led to believe would be the
case. One of the head clerks at the passport office, a Dane, who spoke
English perfectly, assured him that if he went himself he would get the
documents signed at once without bribery. The Government fees were very
low, and beyond these he paid nothing. He was afterwards told that the
Government wished to produce a good impression on the foreigners who
were expected in the country to be present at the coronation, and had
therefore issued directions to expedite the delivery of passports.

About this time, certainly, new regulations were made with regard to the
passports for natives,