CHAPTER V.
COPENHAGEN—THE CAFE—THE DILEMMA—THE GUARD—COMPLIMENT TO ENGLAND—DESCRIPTION OF THE HARBOUR AND FORTIFICATIONS—DELINQUENT SAILORS—THE CITY ON SUNDAY—NEGRO COMMISSIONAIRE—A WALK THROUGH THE CITY—NOTICES OF THE VARIOUS PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
Punctual to our engagement, we met Mr. C——, after dinner at half-past seven. After wandering over the town for some time without any definite object, I grumbled at the system of enjoyment we had adopted. The streets not being paved so well as the worst streets in London are, the stones, projecting with sharp points three or four inches above the ground, wound and irritate the feet to a serious extent; and my ankles were almost sprained several times in consequence of the high heels I had to my boots. I recommend thick shoes without heels to the traveller in all the northern capitals.
"You are always rusty, Bill," said R——. "Come on."
"Let us stop," I replied, "and determine where we are going."
We therefore stopped in a large square, at the base of an equestrian statue, the beauty or imperfection of which I could not see at the late hour; and, with Mr. C—— in the centre, consulted what could be done. Being in ignorance of the habits of the people, and the haunts where amusements existed, we three could only look at each other and be mute.
"Come along," at last exclaimed Mr. C——, as if a great idea had dawned on his mind; "let's turn into this café," directing our attention to a spacious building brilliantly illuminated.
"Port your helm, Jack," said R——, in a jesting tone of voice, and moved quickly away towards the café.
We entered, and to say that we saw anything at our first entrance beyond an atmosphere of tobacco smoke, so thick as to be palpable to the touch, would be out of the question. After opening and closing my eyes twice or three times, and, wiping away the tears which the pungent tobacco smoke excited, I began to take an observation.