CHAPTER FIFTEEN
1.
The lobby of the Hotel Cosmopolis is the exact center of New York,
the spot where at certain hours one is sure of meeting everybody one
knows. The first person that Nelly and Freddie saw, as they passed
through the swing doors, was Jill. She was seated on the chair by the
big pillar in the middle of the hall.
"What ho!" said Freddie. "Waiting for someone?"
"Hullo, Freddie. Yes, I'm waiting for Wally Mason. I got a note from
him this morning, asking me to meet him here. I'm a little early. I
haven't congratulated you yet. You're wonderful!"
"Thanks, old girl. Our young hero is making pretty hefty strides in
his chosen profesh, what! Mr Rooke, who appears quite simple and
unspoiled by success, replied to our representative's enquiry as to
his future plans that he proposed to stagger into the grill-room and
imbibe about eighteen dollars' worth of lunch. Yes, it is a bit of
all right, taking it by and large, isn't it? I mean to say, the
salary, the jolly old salary, you know . . . quite a help when a
fellow's lost all his money!"
Jill was surprised to observe that the Last of the Rookes was
contorting his face in an unsightly manner that seemed to be an
attempt at a wink, pregnant with hidden meaning. She took her cue
dutifully, though without understanding.
"Oh, yes," she replied.
Freddie seemed grateful. With a cordial "Cheerio!" he led Nelly off
to the grill-room.
"I didn't know Jill knew Mr Mason," said Nelly, as they sat down at
their table.
"No?" said Freddie absently, running an experienced eye over the
bill-of-fare. He gave an elaborate order. "What was that? Oh,
absolutely! Jill and I and Wally were children together."
"How funny you should all be together again like this."
"Yes. Oh, good Lord!"
"What's the matter?"
"It's nothing. I meant to send a cable to a pal of mine in England.
I'll send it after lunch."
Freddie took out his handkerchief, and tied a knot in it. He was
slightly ashamed of the necessity of taking such a precaution, but it
was better to be on the safe side. His interview with Jill at the
theatre had left him with the conviction that there was only one
thing for him to do, and that was to cable poor old Derek to forget
impending elections and all the rest of it and pop over to America at
once. He knew that he would never have the courage to re-open the
matter with Jill himself. As an ambassador he was a spent force. If
Jill was to be wooed from her mood of intractability, Derek was the
only man to do it. Freddie was convinced that, seeing him in person,
she would melt and fall into his arms. Too dashed absurd, Freddie
felt, two loving hearts being separated like this and all that sort
of thing. He replaced his handkerchief in his pocket, relieved, and
concentrated himself on the entertainment of Nelly. A simple task,
for, the longer he was with this girl, the easier did it seem to talk
to her.
Jill, left alone in the lobby, was finding the moments pass quite
pleasantly. She liked watching the people as they came in. One or two
of the girls of the company fluttered in like birds, were swooped
upon by their cavaliers, and fluttered off to the grill-room. The
red-headed Babe passed her with a genial nod, and, shortly after,
Lois Denham, the willowy recipient of sunbursts from her friend Izzy
of the hat-checks, came by in company with a sallow, hawk-faced young
man with a furtive eye, whom Jill took--correctly--to be Izzy
himself. Lois was looking pale and proud, and from the few words
which came to Jill's ears as they neared her, seemed to be annoyed at
having been kept waiting.
It was immediately after this that the swing-doors revolved rather
more violently than usual, and Mr Goble burst into view.
There was a cloud upon Mr Goble's brow, seeming to indicate that his
grievance against life had not yet been satisfactorily adjusted: but
it passed as he saw Jill, and he came up to her with what he would
probably have claimed to be an ingratiating smile.
"Hello!" said Mr Goble. "All alone?"
Jill was about to say that the condition was merely temporary when
the manager went on.
"Come and have a bit of lunch."
"Thank you very much," said Jill, with the politeness of dislike,
"but I'm waiting for someone."
"Chuck him!" advised Mr Goble cordially.
"No, thanks, I couldn't, really."
The cloud began to descend again upon Mr Goble's brow. He was
accustomed to having these invitations of his treated as royal
commands.
"Come along!"
"I'm afraid it's impossible."
Mr Goble subjected her to a prolonged stare, seemed about to speak,
changed his mind, and swung off moodily in the direction of the
grill-room. He was not used to this sort of treatment.
He had hardly gone, when Wally appeared.
"What was he saying to you?" demanded Wally abruptly, without
preliminary greeting.
"He was asking me to lunch."
Wally was silent for a moment. His good-natured face wore an unwonted
scowl.
"He went in there, of course?" he said, pointing to the grill-room.
"Yes."
"Then let's go into the other room," said Wally. He regained his
good-humor. "It was awfully good of you to come. I didn't know
whether you would be able to."
"It was very nice of you to invite me."
Wally grinned.
"How perfect our manners are! It's a treat to listen! How did you
know that that was the one hat in New York I wanted you to wear?"
"Oh, these things get about. Do you like it?"
"It's wonderful. Let's take this table, shall we?"
