This was a good hotel, the Hotel de l'Europe.

He had not found a finer or better in Europe.

Others might be larger and more magnificent, but not one of them had offered him such light and hospitality at a time when they were needed most.

He went back to the bureau, where the register still lay open.

He had a vague impression that it was not lying just as they had left it, that it was turned much more to one side, and he glanced at the names, which a quaint fancy had made them write on the open page.