"But is it not a little confusing to you, this change from the old to the new style?"
"You forget that I never used any other," laughingly returned Rawolle.
"True; I had forgotten that fact. But does not this extra day interfere in many ways with the dates of bills, notes, and other legal documents?"
"Not at all. The extra day is simply New-Year's-Day--a day of time to fill in the year, but not for any other purpose. In regard to the dating of official papers, they are dated the next day, and this day is as if it never existed. Do you comprehend?"
"Yes, I comprehend your statements, but not having had any experience in the use of this new order of dates, I cannot say that I am fully aware of how it works."
"You will find no difficulty in its application, I assure you."
Without speaking further on the subject, all busied themselves in their preparations for the journey eastward.
At 15:42, as Rawolle named it, but at 42 minutes past 3, as Cobb persisted in calling it, their arrangements had been completed and they were at the front entrance to the Occidental.
At the curb stood an elegant four-seated carriage of very light construction, with a driver upon the seat. There were no horses attached to the vehicle, which was very low in build, and with wheels of fair size. The driver sat in the rear, on a sort of raised single seat, with a small wheel, like a tiller-wheel, in front of him.
It was an electric drag, with the storage batteries underneath the seat. There were many passers-by at the time, but, thanks to Rawolle's care, none knew who were getting into the carriage, else there would have been a crowd in a few minutes.
Taking their seats, the driver started the current, and the carriage rolled rapidly down toward Market street.
"What do you think of this for a carriage, Mr. Cobb?" asked Rawolle.
"It is a most decided advance upon anything we had in old days," the other returned, looking admiringly over it. "This is, no doubt, an electric carriage?"
"It is an electric drag, and the style of all the first-class carriages in the city, except those which are used for hill travel. These carriages run up grades of three hundred feet to the mile with ease."
"Are they expensive? and how long will their batteries last?"