the voice of the city(城市之声)-第29节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
lairs。
Thus in the depopulated caravansary the little band of connoisseurs
jealously bide themselves during the heated season； enjoying to the
uttermost the de… lights of mountain and seashore that art and skill have
gathered and served to them。
In this July came to the hotel one whose card that she sent to the clerk
108
… Page 109…
The Voice of the City
for her name to be registered read 〃Mme。 He1oise D'Arcy Beaumont。〃
Madame Beaumont was a guest such as the Hotel Lotus loved。 She
possessed the fine air of the e1ite； tempered and sweetened by a cordial
graciousness that made the hotel employees her slaves。 Bell…boys fought
for the honor of answering her ring； the clerks； but for the question of
ownership； would have deeded to her the hotel and its contents； the other
guests regarded her as the final touch of feminine exclusiveness and
beauty that rendered the entourage perfect。
This super…excellent guest rarely left the hotel。 Her habits were
consonant with the customs of the dis… criminating patrons of the Hotel
Lotus。 To enjoy that delectable hostelry one must forego the city as though
it were leagues away。 By night a brief ex… cursion to the nearby roofs is in
order； but during the torrid day one remains in the umbrageous fast… nesses
of the Lotus as a trout hangs poised in the pel… lucid sanctuaries of his
favorite pool。；
Though alone in the Hotel Lotus； Madame Beau… mont preserved the
state of a queen whose loneliness was of position only。 She breakfasted at
ten； a cool； sweet； leisurely； delicate being who glowed softly in the
dimness like a jasmine flower in the dusk。
But at dinner was Madame's glory at its height。 She wore a gown as
beautiful and immaterial as the mist from an unseen cataract in a mountain
gorge。 The nomenclature of this gown is beyond the guess of the scribe。
Always pale…red roses reposed against its lace…garnished front。 It was a
gown that the bead…waiter viewed with respect and met at the door。 You
thought of Paris when you saw it； and maybe of mysterious countesses；
and certainly of Versailles and rapiers and Mrs。 Fiske and rouge…et…noir。
There was an untraceable rumor in the Hotel Lotus that Madame was a
cosmopolite； and that she was pulling with her slender white bands certain
strings between the nations in the favor of Russia。 Being a citi… zeness of
the world's smoothest roads it was small wonder that she was quick to
recognize in the refined purlieus of the Hotel Lotus the most desirable spot
in America for a restful sojourn during the heat of mid… summer。
On the third day of Madame Beaumont's residence in the hotel a
young man entered and registered him… self as a guest。 His clothing to
109
… Page 110…
The Voice of the City
speak of his points in approved order was quietly in the mode； his
features good and regular； his expression that of a poised and sophisticated
man of the world。 He in… formed the clerk that he would remain three or
four days； inquired concerning the sailing of European steamships； and
sank into the blissful inanition of the nonpareil hotel with the contented air
of a traveller in his favorite inn。
The young man not to question the veracity of the register was
Harold Farrington。 He drifted into the exclusive and calm current of life in
the Lotus so tactfully and silently that not a ripple alarmed his fellow…
seekers after rest。 He ate in the Lotus and of its patronym； and was lulled
into blissful peace with the other fortunate mariners。 In one day he
acquired his table and his waiter and the fear lest the panting chasers after
repose that kept Broadway warm should pounce upon and destroy this
contiguous but covert haven。
After dinner on the next day after the arrival of Harold Farrington
Madame Beaumont dropped her handkerchief in passing out。 Mr。
Farrington recov… ered and returned it without the effusiveness of a seeker
after acquaintance。
Perhaps there was a mystic freemasonry between the discriminating
guests of the Lotus。 Perhaps they were drawn one to another by the fact of
their common good fortune in discovering the acme of sum… mer resorts in
a Broadway hotel。 Words delicate in courtesy and tentative in departure
from formality passed between the two。 And； as if in the expedient
atmosphere of a real summer resort； an acquaintance grew； flowered and
fructified on the spot as does the mystic plant of the conjuror。 For a few
moments they stood on a balcony upon which the corridor ended； and
tossed the feathery ball of conversation。
〃One tires of the old resorts；〃 said Madame Beau… mont； with a faint
but sweet smile。 〃What is the use to fly to the mountains or the seashore to
escape noise and dust when the very people that make both follow us
there？〃
〃Even on the ocean；〃 remarked Farrington； sadly； 〃the Philistines be
upon you。 The most exclusive steamers are getting to be scarcely more
than ferry boats。 Heaven help us when the summer resorter dis… covers that
110
… Page 111…
The Voice of the City
the Lotus is further away from Broadway than Thousand Islands or
Mackinac。〃
〃I hope our secret will be safe for a week； any… how；〃 said Madame；
with a sigh and a smile。 〃I do not know where I would go if they should
descend upon the dear Lotus。 I know of but one place so de… lightful in
summer； and that is the castle of Count Polinski； in the Ural Mountains。〃
〃I hear that Baden…Baden and Cannes are almost deserted this season；〃
said Farrington。 〃Year by year the old resorts fall in disrepute。 Perhaps
many others； like ourselves； are seeking out the quiet nooks that are
overlooked by the majority。〃
〃I promise myself three days more of this delicious rest；〃 said Madame
Beaumont。 〃On Monday the Cedric sails。〃
Harold Farrington's eyes proclaimed his regret。 〃I too must leave on
Monday；〃 he said； 〃but I do not go abroad。〃
Madame Beaumont shrugged one round shoulder in a foreign gesture。
〃One cannot bide here forever； charming though it may be。 The
chateau has been in preparation for me longer than a month。 Those house
parties that one must give what a nuisance！ But I shall never for… get my
week in the Hotel Lotus。〃
〃Nor shall I；〃 said Farrington in a low voice； and I shall never forgive
the Cedric。〃
On Sunday evening； three days afterward； the two sat at a little table
on the same balcony。 A discreet waiter brought ices and small glasses of
claret cup。
Madame Beaumont wore the same beautiful even… ing gown that she
had worn each day at dinner。 She seemed thoughtful。 Near her hand on the
table lay a small chatelaine purse。 After she had eaten her ice she opened
the purse and took out a one…dollar bill。
〃Mr。 Farrington；〃 she said； with the smile that had won the Hotel Lotus；
〃I want to tell you some… thing。 I'm going to leave before breakfast in the
morning； because I've got to go back to my work。 I'm behind the hosiery
counter at Casey's Mammoth Store； and my vacation's up at eight o'clock
to… morrow。 That paper…dollar is the last cent I'll see till I draw my eight
dollars salary next Saturday night。 You're a real gentleman； and you've
111
… Page 112…
The Voice of the City
been good to me； and I wanted to tell you before I went。 I've been saving
up out of my wages for a year just for this vacation。 I wanted to spend one
week like a lady if I never do another one。 I wanted to get up when I
please instead of having to crawl out at seven every morning； and I wanted
to live on the best and be waited on and ring bells for things just like rich
folks do。 Now I've done it； and I've
