"Very well," he answered grimly; "but I'm afraid the meeting won't be any the pleasanter for my company. When do we start?"
"The Joyous" laughed genially.
"Not for a couple of hours yet; but if you're tired of the house we can take a stroll through the town."
Stephen and I considered this a good suggestion, so, having locked the door, we went out on a tour of inspection.
By this time there was no mistaking the fact that the city proper was completely in the hands of the insurgents. The tricolour floated over the principal buildings; the National Guards patrolled the streets, and directed the operations of the people who worked feverishly at the strengthening of the barricades; the gates were guarded by armed students enrolled as soldiers. Of the imperial government not a trace seemed to be left.
Turning back from the Scotch Gate, Rakoczy led us through several streets, and finally stopped before a house which, outwardly at least, differed in no wise from its neighbours.
Our guide, speaking a word to the doorkeeper, led the way into an ordinary passage, at the farther end of which a second janitor directed us to a large room.
Several men had already assembled, and others came afterwards, bringing up the number to perhaps twenty.
They sat in rows facing a raised desk, and we, being of modest dispositions, took our seats right at the back.
"How long before the mummery begins?" asked Stephen.