ere　lies　the　first　small　village　of　Holland；　in　an　hour　we　shall　be　there；　and　then　we　will　take　the　stage　and　go　a　little　into　the　interior。　En　avant；　en　avant！〃
  CHAPTER　XII。
  TRAVELLING　ADVENTURES。
  The　stage　stood　before　the　tavern　at　Grave；　and　awaited　its　passengers。　The　departure　of　the　stage　was　an　important　occurrence　to　the　inhabitants　of　the　little　townan　occurrence　that　disturbed　the　monotony　of　their　lives　for　a　few　moments；　and　showed　them　at　least　now　and　then　a　new　face；　that　gave　them　something　to　think　of；　and　made　them　dream　of　the　far…off　city　where　the　envied　travellers　were　going。
  Today　all　Grave　was　in　commotion　and　excitement。　The　strangers　had　arrived　at　the　post…house；　and　after　partaking　of　an　excellent　dinner；　engaged　three　seats　in　the　stage。　The　good　people　of　Grave　hoped　to　see　three　strange　faces　looking　out　of　the　stage　window；　many　were　the　surmises　of　their　destiny　and　their　possible　motives　for　travelling。　They　commenced　these　investigations　while　the　strangers　were　still　with　them。
  A　man　had　seen　them　enter　the　city；　dusty　and　exhausted；　and　he　declared　that　the　glance　which　the　two　men　in　brown　coats　had　cast　at　his　young　wife；　who　had　come　to　the　window　at　his　call；　was　very　boldyes；　even　suspicious；　and　it　seemed　very　remarkable　to　him　that　such　plain；　ordinary　looking　wanderers　should　have　a　servant；　for；　doubtless；　the　man　walking　behind　them；　carrying　the　very　small　carpet…bag；　was　their　servant；　but；　truly；　he　appeared　to　be　a　proud　person；　and　had　the　haughty　bearing　of　a　general　or　a　field…marshal；　he　would　not　even　return　the　friendly　greetings　of　the　people　he　passed。　His　masters　could　not　be　distinguished　or　rich；　for　both　of　them　carried　a　case　under　their　arms。　What　could　be　in　those　long　cases；　what　secret　was　hidden　there？　Perhaps　they　held　pistols；　and　the　good　people　of　Grave　would　have　to　deal　with　robbers　or　murderers。　The　appearance　of　the　strangers　was　wild　and　bold　enough　to　allow　of　the　worst　suspicions。
  The　whole　town；　as　before　mentioned；　was　in　commotion；　and　all　were　anxious　to　see　the　three　strangers；　about　whom　there　was　certainly　something　mysterious。　They　had　the　manners　and　bearing　of　noblemen；　but　were　dressed　like　common　men。
  A　crowd　of　idlers　had　assembled　before　the　post…house；　whispering　and　staring　at　the　windows　of　the　guests'　rooms。　At　last　their　curiosity　was　about　to　be　gratified；　at　last　the　servant　appeared　with　the　little　carpet…bag；　and　placed　it　in　the　stage；　and　returned　for　the　two　cases；　whose　contents　they　would　so　greedily　have　known。　The　postilion　blew　his　horn；　the　moment　of　departure　had　arrived。
  A　murmur　was　heard　through　the　crowd；　the　strangers　appeared；　they　approached　the　stage；　and　with　such　haughty　and　commanding　glances　that　the　men　nearest　them　stepped　timidly　back。
  The　postilion　sounded　his　horn　again；　the　strangers　were　entering　the　stage。　At　the　door　stood　the　postmaster；　and　behind　him　his　wife；　the　commanding　postmistress。
  〃Niclas；〃　she　whispered；　〃I　must　and　will　know　who　these　strangers　are。　Go　and　demand　their　passports。〃
  The　obedient　Niclas　stepped　out　and　cried　in　a　thundering　voice　to　the　postilion；　who　was　just　about　to　start；　to　wait。　Stepping　to　the　stage；　he　opened　the　door。
  〃Your　passports；　gentlemen；〃　he　said；　roughly。　〃You　forgot　to　show　me　your　passports。〃
  The　curious　observers　breathed　more　freely；　and　nodded　encouragingly　to　the　daring　postmaster。
  〃You　rejoice；〃　murmured　his　wife；　who　was　still　standing　in　the　door；　from　whence　she　saw　all　that　passed；　and　seemed　to　divine　the　thoughts　of　her　gaping　friends〃you　rejoice；　but　you　shall　know　nothing。　I　shall　not　satisfy　your　curiosity。〃
  Mr。　Niclas　still　stood　at　the　door　of　the　stage。　His　demand　had　not　been　attended　to；　he　repeated　it　for　the　third　time。
  〃Is　it　customary　here　to　demand　passports　of　travellers？〃　asked　a　commanding　voice　from　the　stage。
  Niclas；　and　taking　the　two　mysterious　cases　from　the　stage；　he　placed　them　before　the　strangers。
  〃Let　us　go　into　the　house；〃　whispered　the　king　to　his　friends。　〃We　must　make　bonne　mine　a　mauvais　jeu；〃　and　he　approached　the　door　of　the　housethere　stood　the　wife　of　the　postmaster；　with　sparkling　eyes　and　a　malicious　grin。
  〃The　postilion　is　going；　and　you　will　lose　your　money；〃　she　said；　〃they　never　return　money　when　once　they　have　it。〃
  〃Ah！　I　thought　that　was　only　a　habit　of　the　church；〃　said　the　king；　laughing。　〃Nevertheless；　the　postmaster　can　keep　what　he　has。　Will　you　have　the　kindness　to　show　me　a　room；　where　I　can　open　my　bag　at　leisure；　and　send　some　coffee　and　good　wine　to　us？〃
  There　was　something　so　commanding　in　the　king's　voice；　so　imposing　in　his　whole　appearance；　that　even　the　all…conquering　Madame　Niclas　felt　awed；　and　she　silently　stepped　forward　and　showed　him　her　best　room。　The　servant　followed　with　the　two　cases　and　the　bag；　and　laid　them　upon　the　table；　then　placed　himself　at　the　door。
  〃Now；　madame；　leave　us；〃　ordered　the　king；　〃and　do　as　I　told　you。〃
  Madame　Niclas　left；　and　the　gentlemen　were　once　more　alone。
  〃Now；　what　shall　we　do？〃　said　the　king；　smilingly。　〃I　believe　there　is　danger　of　our　wonderful　trip　falling　through。〃
  〃It　is　only　necessary　for　your　majesty　to　make　yourself　known　to　the　postmaster；〃　said　Colonel　Balby。
  〃And　if　he　will　not　believe　me；　this　fripon　who　declares　that　no　one　could　tell　by　my　appearance　whether　I　was　a　rascal　or　not；　this　dull…eyed　simpleton；　who　will　not　see　the　royal　mark　upon　my　brow；　which　my　courtiers　see　so　plainly　written　there？　No；　no；　my　friend；　that　is　not　the　way。　We　have　undertaken　to　travel　as　ordinary　men　we　must　now　see　how　common　men　get　through　the　world。　It　is　necessary　to　show　the　police　that　we　are　at　least　honest　men。　Happily；　I　believe　I　have　the　means　to　do　so　at　hand。　Open　our　ominous　bag；　friend　Balby；　I　think　you　will　discover　my　portfolio；　and　in　it　a　few　blank　passes；　and　my　state　seal。〃
  Colonel　Balby　did　as　the　king　ordered；　and　drew　from　the　bag　the　portfolio；　with　its　precious　contents。
  The　king　bade　Balby　sit　down　and　fill　up　the　blanks　at　his　dictation。
  The　pass　was　drawn　up　for　the　two　brothers；　Frederick　and　Henry　Zoller；　accompanied　by　their　servant；　with　the　intention　of　travelling　through　Holland。
  The　king　placed　his　signature　under　this　important　document。
  〃Now；　it　is　only　necessary　to　put　the　state　seal　under　it；　and　we　shall　be　free；　but　how　will　we　get　a　light？〃
  〃I　cannot　tell　who　is　a　rascal；　you　may　be　one　for　aught　I　know。〃
  Balby　uttered　an　angry　exclamation　and　stepped　nearer　to　the　daring　postmaster；　while　his　servant　shook　his　fist　threateningly　at　Niclas。
  The　king　dispelled　their　anger　with　a　single　glance。
  〃Sir；〃　he　said　to　Niclas；　〃God　made　my　face；　and　it　is　not　my　fault　if　it　does　not　please　you；　but　concerning　our　passports；　they　are　lying　well　preserved　in　my　carpet…bag。　I　should　think　that　would　suffice　you。〃
  〃No；　that　does　not　suffice　me；〃　screamed　Niclas。　〃Show　me　your　passports　if　I　am　to　believe　that　you　are　not　vagabonds。〃
  〃You　dare　to　call　us　vagabonds？〃　cried　the　king；　whose　patience　now　also　appeared　exhausted；　and　whose　clear　brow　was　slightly　clouded。
  〃The　police　consider　everyone　criminal　until　he　has　proved　he　is　not　so；〃　said　Niclas；　emphatically。
  The　king's　anger　was　already　subdued。
  〃In　the　eyes　of　the　police；　criminality　is　then　the　normal　condition　of　mankind；〃　he　said；　smilingly。
  〃Sir；　you　have　no　right　to　question　the　police　so　pointedly；〃　said　Niclas；　sternly。　〃You　are　here　to　be　questioned；　and　not　to　question。〃
  The　king　laughingly　arrested　the　uplifted　arm　of　his　companion。
  〃Mon　Dieu；〃　he　murmured；　〃do　you　not　see　that　this　is　amusing　me　highly？　Ask；　sir；　I　am　ready　to　answer。〃
  〃Have　you　a　pass？〃
  〃Yes；　sir。〃
  〃Then　give　it　to　me　to　vise。〃
  〃To　do　so；　I　should　have　to　open　my　bag；　and　that　would　be　very　inconvenient；　but；　if　the　law　absolutely　demands　it；　I　will　do　it。〃
  〃The　law　demands　it。〃
  The　king　motioned　to　his　servant；　and　ordered　him　to　carry　the　bag　into　the　house。
  〃Why　this　delaywhy　this　unnecessary　loss　of　time？〃　asked　Niclas。　〃The　postilion　can　wait　no　longer。　If　he　arrives　too　late　at　the　next　station；　he　will　be　fined。〃
  〃I　will　not　wait　another　minute；〃　cried　the　postilion；　determinately。　〃get　in；　or　I　shall　start　without　you。〃
  〃Show　me　your　passports；　and　then　get　in；〃　cried　Niclas。
  The　strangers　appeared　confused　and　undecided。　Niclas　looked　triumphantly　at　his　immense　crowd　of　listeners；　who　were　gazing　at　him　with　amazement；　awaiting　in　breathless　stillness　the　unravelling　of　this　scene。
  〃Get　in；　or　I　shall　start；〃　repeated　the　postilion。
  〃Give　me　your　passports；　or　I　will　not　let　you　go！〃　screamed　〃We　can　demand　them　if　we　wish　to　do　so。〃
  〃And　why　do　you　wish　it　now？〃　said　the　same　voice。
  〃I　wish　it　simply　because　I　wish　it；〃　was　the　reply。
  A　stern　face　now　appeared　at　the　door；　looking　angrily　at　the　postmaster。
  〃Think　what　you　say；　sir；　and　be　respectful。〃
  〃Silence！〃　interrupted　the　one　who　had　first　spoken。　〃Do　not　let　us　make　an　unnecessary　disturbance；　mon　ami。　Why　do　you　wish　to　see　our　passports；　sir？〃
  〃Why？〃　asked　Niclas；　who　was　proud　to　play　so　distinguished　a　part　before　his　comrades〃y