On the next morning, Vinal, Morton, and two other young Americans were seated together in the coffee room at Meurice's. They were discussing plans of travel.
"Then you don't intend to stay long in Paris," said one of the strangers to Morton.
"Not at present. I shall set out in a few days for Vienna, and then go down the Danube."
"That's an original idea. What will you find there worth seeing?"
"It's a fancy of mine. There is no place in Europe where one can see such a conglomerate of nations and races as in the provinces along the Danube. I like to see the human animal in all his varieties,—that's my specialty."
"But what facilities will you find there for travelling?"
"O, I shall be content with any that offer; the vehicles of the country, whatever they are. I don't believe in travelling en grand seigneur. By mixing with the people, and doing at Rome as the Romans do, one learns in a month more than he could learn in ten years by the other way."
"You'll take your servant with you, I suppose."
"No. I shall discharge him when I leave Paris."
After conversing for some time longer, Morton and the two young men left the room, while Vinal still remained faithful to the attractions of his omelet. He was interrupted by the advent of the small man who had accosted Morton in the steamer, and had since favored him with his company from Liverpool to Paris.