“You go to the Angleterre, and we Americans will go to the Etrangers. The hotels are close together, so that we can talk across from the windows, and we will then play the houses against each other.”
“Very good,” replied Charley, “just the thing. Evidently the competition between them is exceedingly bitter, and they are ready to cut each other’s throats.”
So it was agreed that we were to divide. We did not leave the carriages until the proprietors had ratified the agreements made by their runners, and we did not allow the baggage taken out till we had seen and accepted the rooms.
At the Hotel des Etrangers they were sorry, very sorry, but they had only one room with a balcony, and that was on the the second floor.
“Very well, then,” I said, “we will see what our friends can do at the other hotel,” and I turned to go to the carriage where I had left the Judge to look after the “Doubter,” and the other baggage.
“Stop, gentlemen,” said the proprietor; “I give you nice back rooms on first floor.”
“That will never do,” I replied, as I placed my hand on the carriage door.
“I just thinks,” said the proprietor, “I have single one balcony room on first floor mit two beds.”
“Never! we want three rooms with balconies on first floor,” and I opened the carriage door.
“You sell have two rooms mit three beds.”