‘Then, let me tell you, you will have a three days’ job of it with your Police, and our steamer sails to-morrow morning.’
‘What can I do then?’
‘Go without having it visé, to be sure.’
‘Bah! suppose I get into trouble?’
‘Idiot! Here is a moujik setting up to teach me! Have you got your passport with you? Let us see it.’
I drew from my pocket the pass which I kept carefully wrapped in a silk handkerchief, after the Russian plan; but the man did not even give himself the trouble of looking at it.
‘Come to-morrow, at seven o’clock in the morning, and if you don’t find me here, wait for me; and now be off as quick as you can.’
I returned joyously to my lodgings, and on the following morning I was punctual to my appointment. Steam was already got up; my man perceived me, and said simply, ‘Pay your money.’ He then left me, and returned with a yellow ticket, of which I naturally pretended to ignore the signification. This extracted a second notice, as follows, ‘Hold your tongue, moujik, and let us manage.’ The bell rang three times, the barrier was opened, the passengers pressed and hurried in, while a rude shove from my friend sent me in along with the others. Some moments after the paddles went round, we were in motion; and I was as one that dreamed.