another in a vain hope of getting their wants attended to. But it seemed
to be almost impossible. To those who could not speak French the
situation was hopeless indeed. Patty watched one poor lady, who seemed
to be travelling alone, and who continually inquired of the stolid and
unobliging porters, "Do you speak English?" and invariably received the
reply, "Non, madame; non, madame." The lonely little lady seemed to be
in despair, and Patty wished she could help her, but she did not know
herself what made the difficulty. At last she discovered that it was
necessary to get a customs inspector and a porter and a railway official
all together in one place and at one time. This done, the rest was easy,
at least to the traveller who knew sufficient French to make his wants
known.

This Mr. Farrington managed to accomplish after some delay. The official
ceremonies then being soon over, and our travellers having repeatedly
declared that they were transporting nothing eatable, they were allowed
to drive away in cabs. The cabs in Paris are of the low, open pattern,
like a victoria, and they looked very strange and informal to Patty, who
had never seen any but closed cabs or hansoms. Mr. and Mrs. Farrington
rode in the first cab, which was followed by another, containing Patty
and Elise, with Lisette, who sat on the small, folding front seat.

Patty held her breath with excitement when she realised that she was in
Paris at last.

They drove through the streets, which were not very well lighted, gazing
eagerly at the strange sights everywhere about them.

Their hotel was in the Place Vendome, and the drive there from the
station was not through the beautiful boulevards, but through some