“He has rooms in that building some of the time. Do you see that sign—Melchoir?”
“Yes.”
“This Melchoir is a very dear friend of Andersen, who lives with him a portion of the time.”
“Is it possible to see Hans Christian Andersen?” asked Mrs. Kendall.
“Quite possible, madam. I will see about it to-day. He is a very agreeable man, and willing to meet all who wish to see him,” answered Joseph. “There’s the Town Hall,” he added, as the carriage passed a large building, with an extensive colonnade in front.
“‘Med Lov skal man Land bygge,’” said Lincoln, reading an inscription on the front. “Those are my sentiments exactly.”
“‘With law must the land be built’ is the English of that,” laughed Joseph. “All the Jutland laws begin with this phrase, which was spoken by Waldemar II. We Danes believe in law, and everything that is good. Copenhagen is a very fine city, and everything is remarkably cheap here.”
“What do you call your city in your own lingo, Joseph?”
“Kjöbenhavn; pronounce it Chép-en-ahn.”
“Chepenahn,” repeated Lincoln.