He had not seen Mortimer for weeks; neither had Leila; and now he looked at him inquiringly, disturbed at his battered and bloodshot appearance.
"Oh," said Mortimer, "you down here ?" "Have you been out of town ?" asked Plank cautiously.
Mortimer nodded, and started to pass on toward the bronze cage of the elevator, but something seemed to occur to him suddenly; he checked his pace, turned, and waddled after Plank, rejoining him on the marble steps of the rotunda.
"See here," he panted, holding Plank by the elbow and breathing heavily even after the short chase across the lobby, "I meant to tell you something.

Come over here and sit down a moment." Still grasping Plank's elbow in his puffy fingers, he directed him toward a velvet seat in a corner of the lobby; and here they sat down, while Mortimer mopped his fat neck with his handkerchief, swearing at the heat under his breath.
"Look here," he said; "I promised you something once, didn't I ?" "Did you ?" said Plank, with his bland, expressionless stare of an overgrown baby.
"Oh, cut that out! You know damn well I did; and when I say a thing I make good.

D'ye see ?" "I don't see," said Plank, "what you are talking about." "I'm talking about what I said I'd do for you.

Haven't I made good?
Haven't I put you into everything I said I would?
Don't you go everywhere?
Don't people ask you everywhere ?" "Yes--in a way," said Plank wearily.

"I am very grateful; I always will be.