“Polite old codger,” observed Anguish.

“His company manners.  Just let him get you in d’ sweatbox, if you t’ink he’s polite.”

“Ever been there?”

“Well,” a little confusedly, “I pasted a Graustark baggage-smasher down in d’ yards two weeks ago, an’ dey had me up.  I proved d’ feller insulted a lady, an’ old Dangloss let me off, sayin’ I’d ought to have a medal.  Dese guys are great on gallantry when ladies is concerned.  If it hadn’t been fer dat, I’d be in d’ lock-up now.  An’ say, you ought to see d’ lock-up!  It’s a tower, wid dungeons an’ all dat sort of t’ing.  A man couldn’t no more get out ‘n’ he could fly up to d’ monastery.  Dey’re great on law an’ order here, too.  D’ Princess has issued strictest kind of rules an’ everybody has to live up to ’em like as if dey was real gospel.  I t’ought I’d put you next, gents, so’s you wouldn’t be doin’ anyt’ing crooked here.”

“Thanks,” said Lorry, drily.  “We shall try to conduct ourselves discreetly in the city.”

Probably a quarter mile farther down the narrow, level street they came to the bazaars, the gaudy stores, and then the hotel.  It was truly a hostelry to inspire respect and admiration in the mind of such as Sitzky, for it was huge and well equipped with the modern appointments.  As soon as the two Americans had been given their rooms, they sent for their luggage.  Then they went out to the broad piazza, with its columns and marble balustrades, and looked for Sitzky, remembering their invitation to drink.  The guard had refused to enter the hotel with them, urging them to allow him to remain on the piazza.  He was not there when they returned, but they soon saw him.  On the sidewalk he was arguing with a white-uniformed police guard, and they realized that he had been ejected from sacred precincts.

They promptly rescued him from the officer, who bowed and strode away as soon as they interceded.

“Dese fellers is slick enough to see you are swells and I’m not,” said Sitzky, not a bit annoyed by his encounter.  “I’ll bet my head ’at inside ten minutes old Dangloss will know who you are, where you come from an’ what you’re doin’ here.”

“I’ll bet fifty heads he won’t find out what we’re doing here,” grinned Anguish, looking at Lorry.  “Well, let’s hunt up the thirst department.”

They found the little apartment in which drinks were served at tables, and before they said good-by to Sitzky in front of the hotel, a half hour later, that worthy was in exceeding good humor and very much flushed in the face.  He said he would be back in two days, and if they needed him for any purpose whatever, they could reach him by a note at the railway station.”

“Funny how you run across an American in every nook and corner of the world,” mused Lorry, as they watched the stocky ex-man-o’warsman stroll off towards his hotel.

“If we can run across the Guggenslockers as easily, we’ll be in luck.  When shall we begin the hunt?  Tonight?”