CHAPTER XXXII
He looked at New York through a taxicab window without much interest. Alarge damp grey dirty place, very crowded, where he would not like tolive, he thought. He managed himself and his baggage with ease anddispatch; his indifferent, dignified manner and his reckless use of moneywere ideally effective with porters, taxi drivers and the like. When hereached the hotel about eight o'clock at night he went to his room andmade himself carefully immaculate. He studied himself with a good deal ofinterest in the full length mirror which was set in the bath room door;for he had seldom encountered such a mirror and he had a considerableamount of vanity of which he was not at all conscious. It struck him thathe was remarkably good-looking, and indeed he was more so than usual, hiseyes bright, his face flushed, his whole body tense and poised withpurpose and expectation.
He went down to the lobby, looked Julia up in the register, ascertainedthe number of her room, and made a note of it. Then he asked the telephonegirl to call her and learn whether she was in.
"Yes; she is in. She wants to know who's calling, please."
"Tell her an old friend who wants to surprise her." He did not care torisk any evasion, and he also wanted his arrival to have its full dramaticeffect.
The telephone girl transmitted his message.
"She says she can't come down yet {~HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS~} not for about half an hour."
"Tell her I'll wait. If she asks for me I'll be in that little roomthere." He pointed to a small reception room opening off the mezzaninegallery, which he had selected in advance. He had planned everythingcarefully.
The Blood of the Conquerors Page 36
