im, in English, to take us to "The Three Kings." He only stared and
shook his head. We tried him with "_Les Trois Rois_." He seemed still
more mystified.

"What can be done with people who do not understand their own language!"
I exclaimed in despair.

We tried it again with our purest Parisian accent. An inkling of our
meaning pierced his dull understanding. He rolled heavily down from his
seat, and opened the door with the usual "_Oui, oui_." We entered and
were driven away.

"Do you think he understood you?" queried Mrs. K.

"No-o."

"Well, where do you suppose he will take us?"

"I don't know, and I don't much care," I responded, in desperation.

We settled back upon the cushions. The peace that follows resignation
possessed our souls. O, the luxury of that jolting, rattling ride, as we
wound in and out among the tortuous streets! A full half hour passed
before the dusky old hotel darkened above us, surmounted by "The Three
Kings" arrayed in Eastern magnificence, and wearing gilded crowns upon
their heads.

Fate had been propitious. This was our destination, without doubt,
though we had made a grand mistake as to its location. We descended at
the entrance with the air, I trust, of being equal to the occasion. We
calmly surveyed the assembled porters, who hastened to seize our
satchels and wraps. We demanded a room, and inquired the hour of _table
d'hote_, as though we had done the same thing a thousand times before.
Mrs. K. was right; there was a moral support in that blessed carriage.

_Table d'hote_ over, we strayed into a pretty _salon_ opening from the
_salle a manger_. Both were crowded--over doors and windows, and within
cabinets filling every niche and corner--with quaint specimens of
pottery--pitchers, vases, and jars, ancient enough in appearance to have
graced the domestic establishment of the original "Three Kings." The
glass doors thrown back enticed us upon a long, low balcony, almost
swept by the rushing river below--the beautiful Rhine hastening on to
its hills and vineyards. We leaned over, smitten with sudden
homesickness, and sent a message back to Rolandseck of happy memory.

With the faint shadows of coming twilight we wandered out into the
square before the hotel. A line of _voitures_ extended down one side,
every one of which was quickened into life at our approach. We paused,
with foot upon the step of the first, for the _carte_ always proffered,
upon which is the number of the dri