Without it I could not cross the borders by any railway.

My studies of the Tourists' Guide had suggested that once I was in Austria I might find things slacker and move about easier.

I thought of having a try at the Tyrol and I also thought of Bohemia.
But these places were a long way off, and there were several thousand chances each day that I would be caught on the road.
This was Thursday, the 30th of December, the second last day of the year.

I was due in Constantinople on the 17th of January.
Constantinople! I had thought myself a long way from it in Berlin, but now it seemed as distant as the moon.
But that big sullen river in front of me led to it.

And as I looked my attention was caught by a curious sight.