The lords
and nobles who should have met him at the railway station were as
conspicuously absent in the rotunda of the hotel. No one was there to
receive him except the ingratiating manager of the establishment, who
hoped that he had had a pleasant trip and who assured him that it
would not be more than a couple of hours before his rooms would be
vacated by the people who now had them but were going away as soon as
the procession had passed.
"Get 'em out at once," stormed Mr. Blithers. "Do you think I want to
hang around this infernal lobby until--"
"Pardon me," said the manager blandly, "but your rooms will not be
ready for you before four or five o'clock. They are occupied. We can
put you temporarily in rooms at the rear if your lady desires to rest
and refresh herself after the journey."
"Well, I'll be--" began Mr. Blithers, purple in the face, and then
leaned suddenly against the counter, incapable of finishing the
sentence.
The manager rubbed his hands and smiled. "This is one of our gala
days, Mr. Blithers.
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