When Rollo heard the words "torch light," his interest in the proposed party was greatly increased, and he said he had no doubt that his uncle would like to go.
"I am very sure he would like to go," said Rollo, "and to take me."
"Very well," said one of the gentlemen, "that will make two. And we only want three. Where is your uncle?"
"He is in the reading room," said Rollo. "Wait a moment, and I'll call him."
"That's right," said the gentleman. "Tell him it will cost us a scudo and a half apiece."
So Rollo, taking out half a paul from his pocket,—that being the price of admission to the reading room for a single day,—and giving it to the clerk at the desk, opened a door by the side of the desk, and passed into the reading room. Instead of being only one reading room, however, he found that there were two, with an open door leading from one to the other. There were a great number of very comfortable sofas and arm chairs all about these rooms, and great tables in the middle of them covered with newspapers and magazines. The walls of both rooms were completely covered with paintings of all sizes, most of which had been left there for sale. There were a great many gentlemen sitting around the tables and upon the sofas, reading. Among them Rollo soon found Mr. George. He had established himself in a comfortable arm chair, near a great window that looked out upon the square. But he was obliged to keep the curtain down, on account of the beggars outside, that gave him no peace as long as they could see him.
"Uncle George," said Rollo, "here are some gentlemen who want to make up a party to go and see something by torch light, and I thought that perhaps you and I would like to join it."
"Where is it that they are going?" asked Mr. George—"to the Vatican?"
"Yes," said Rollo, "it is the Vatican. A scudo and a half apiece."
"Very well," said Mr. George. "I should like to go. Where are the gentlemen?"