9/23 As Gray descended the spacious marble steps, he saw that the hotel was indeed doing a big business, for already the lobby was thickly peopled and at the desk a group of new arrivals were plaintively arguing with a bored and supercilious room clerk. Before many moments, he was in the manager's office, explaining, suavely, "Now that I have introduced myself, I wish to thank you for taking care of me upon such short notice." "It was the only space we had. If you wish, I'll have your rooms changed as soon as--" "Have you something better ?" Haviland, the manager, laughed and shook his head. "Scarcely! That suite is our pet and our pride. |