comic side. Through the thin partition she could hear
distinctly the complaints of the people in the next room.

"How ARE we to get on with no soap? Do go and see if James has any."

Then came steps in the passage, and a loud knock at the opposite door.

"James!"

No answer. A furiously loud second knock.

"JAMES!"

"What's the matter? Another fire?"

"Have you any soap?"

"Any what?" sleepily.

"Any SOAP?"

Apparently James was not the happy possessor of that necessary of life
for the steps retreated, and the bell was violently rung.

"'What, no soap?'" exclaimed Erica, laughing; "'so he died, and she very
imprudently married the barber, etc.'"

The chamber maid came to answer the bell.

"Send some one to the nearest shop, please, and get me some soap."

"And a sponge," said another.

"And a brush and comb," said the first.

"Oh! And some hair pins," echoed the other. "Why, destruction! She
doesn't understand a word! What's the German for soap? Give me 'Travel
Talk.'"

"It's burned."

"Well, then, show her the soap dish! Brush your hair with your hands!
This is something between Drum Crambo and Mulberry Bush!"

The whole day was not unlike a fatiguing game of hide-and-seek, and had
it not been for Raeburn's great anxiety, it would have been exceedingly
amusing. Everything was now inside the hotel again, but of course in the
wildest confusion. The personal property of the visitors was placed, as
it came to light, in the hall porter's little room; but things were to
be met with in all directions. At ten o'clock, one of Raeburn's boots
was found on the third story; in the evening, its fellow turned up
in the entrance hall. Distracted tourists were to be seen in all
directions, burrowing under heaps of clothes, or vainly opening
cupboards and drawers, and the delight of finding even the most trifling
possession was great. For hours Raeburn and Erica searched for the lost
papers in vain. At length, in the evening, the coat was found; but,
alas! The pocket was empty.

"The envelope must have been taken out," said Erica. "Was it directed?"

"Unfortunately, yes," said Raeburn. "But, after all, there is still a
chance that it may have tumbled out as the coat fell. If so, we may find
it elsewhere. I've great faith in the honesty of these Innsbruck people,
notwithstanding the craze of some of them that property is theft. That
worthy man yesterday was right, I expect. I hear that the proprietor had
had