The alternative . ost suave manner pos-sible. No one would have suspected that he was unable torecall the name of the youth who put the question. Yes,I rather expected to find Bosworth here. He said some-thing about dining here. He s upstairs in Peter Palmers room. Thank you. I shant disturb him. Disagreeable night,gentlemen. The back of his spike-tailed coat confronted the groupan instant later; he was crossing the room, headed for thegray-heads in the window. Good evening, Billings. How are you, Knapp ? Abeastly night. The three did not shake hands. They had passed thatstage long ago. They d
The alternative . ost suave manner pos-sible. No one would have suspected that he was unable torecall the name of the youth who put the question. Yes,I rather expected to find Bosworth here. He said some-thing about dining here. He s upstairs in Peter Palmers room. Thank you. I shant disturb him. Disagreeable night,gentlemen. The back of his spike-tailed coat confronted the groupan instant later; he was crossing the room, headed for thegray-heads in the window. Good evening, Billings. How are you, Knapp ? Abeastly night. The three did not shake hands. They had passed thatstage long ago. They did nothing that they did nt have to do. I was just telling Knapp that it reminds me of theblizzard in — Stop right there, Billings, interrupted Mr. Van Pycke. It reminds me of every blizzard that has happened withinmy recollection. Theyre all alike — theoretically. A lotof wind, snow, and talk about the poor. Sit down here andhave your liqueurs with me. I m glad I dont have to go in all this to-night, said [3]. The Alternative little Mr. Billings, 59, unconsciously pressing his kneestogether as he sat down at the small table. You re getting old, Billings. So are you. Van Pycke. Demmit, I m not more than Atwo years older than you. Whats more, you have agrown son. My dear fellow, Bosworth is only twenty-five. A mandoes nt have to be a Methuselah to have a grown grow up like weeds. And some of them amount toabout as much as — ahem! Ahem! Please press thatbutton forme, will you, Knapp ? I dont see why the devilthey always have the button on the other side of the , no ! I 11 sign for them, old chap. Dont think of it!Here, boy, let me have the ticket. Mr. Knapp rang, buthe did it to oblige me. Now, see here, Knapp, I dontlike that sort of— My dear Van Pycke, permit me ! Billings is havinghis coffee with me. Its coming now. I insist on addingthe cordial. Very well, if you insist. Napoleon brandy with asingle drop of Curasao. Mind you, — a single drop,waiter.
Size: 894px × 2795px
Photo credit: © The Reading Room / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, bookpublishernewyorkdoddmeadco
