"Oh, yes, he'll change it right enough—but——"
"But what?"
"Oh, nothing. Do you know, I don't care much about him, he's such a grumbler," he broke off lamely.
Nothing more was said, and after a long hunt they at last discovered a hotel suitable to their means. It was a dingy-looking place, but, as Helmar said, "they couldn't live in a palace." Having struck a bargain with the proprietor they returned to the railway station in search of Mark.
The ticket-office seemed quite deserted when they entered. One dim light illuminated the room, and they glanced round for their friend. There was no one there—evidently he had not yet succeeded in his task.
"Let's go and wait outside," said Helmar, "the heat in here is stifling. I expect he's had a more difficult job than we anticipated."
The two friends strolled from the office and sat down on a bench just outside. They had not been there for more than a minute, when a boy, dressed in half-European and half-native costume approached.
"Excellency waits for his friend?" he asked in hesitating tones.
Helmar eyed the youth up and down.
"Well?" he said at last.