They say this city is a second edition of Paris on a small scale,"
continued Lynch. "This is very well got up; but from what I have seen of
the town, it looks like a one-horse city. The streets are not much wider
than a cow-path."

"But they say it is like Paris," added Grossbeck.

"My eyes! there's a clock that speaks English! It is half past ten,"
exclaimed Lynch. "But I'm not going back to the Hotel Royal till I've
had a little fun. There's a what-you-call-it, where they sell wine.
Let's go in, and see what it's like."

The place indicated was a wine-shop, and the two boys entered, seating
themselves at one of the little tables. The prompt waiter came to them,
bowed and scraped, and flourished a napkin, and hinted that he would be
happy to take their order.

"What will you have, Grossbeck?"

"I'll take a glass of wine."

"Let's see you take it!" laughed Lynch. "What shall we call for? I don't
remember a word of French, now that I want to use it."

"Perhaps the _garcon_ can speak English. Ask him."

"Ask him? What shall I say?"

"O, I know. _Parlez-vous Angleterre?_" added Grossbeck, turning to the
waiter.

"_Non, monsieur_," replied the waiter, who did not speak "England."

"O, confound it! What's the Dutch for wine?" demanded Lynch,
impatiently.

"I know--_eau de vie_. _Garcon, eau de vie_," replied Grossbeck,
confidently.

The waiter disappeared, and presently returned with a small decanter and
two minute wine-glasses.

"I knew _eau de vie_ would bring it," added Grossbeck, as he filled the
little glasses.

"That's pretty strong wine," said Lynch, when he had swallowed the
contents of the glass with a very wry face.

"That's so."

They looked about them till the clock indicated that it was time to
start for the hotel; but they decided to repeat the dose from the
decanter, and did so.

"That's the strongest wine I ever drank," said Grossbeck.

"How much is it?" asked Lynch.

"Let's see--_combien?_"

"_Un franc cinquante centimes_," replied the waiter, after he had
glanced at a gauge on the decanter which indicated the quantity of the
fiery fluid that had been consumed.

Neither of them could understand the answer, and Grossbeck handed the
_garcon_ a franc. The man shook his head, and held out his hand for
more. Lynch gave him another franc, and he returned a half franc piece.

"_Pour boire?_" said the man with a winning smile.

"Poor bwar! Who's he?" demanded Lynch, in whose head the