Thrown carelessly upon it was a regimental blazer, obviously awaiting repair, and a pair of socks in like case. Beside them was a work-bag. He moved the blazer and saw beneath it a silver cigarette-case. Then in the grate he saw the burnt end of a cigarette.
With beating heart, but unruffled air, he went out.
The two mocking-birds were perched on a window-sill at the end of the corridor.
"Pore old Ernie boy!" they cried in chorus. "Did he think she was for him?" ...
The story trickled down to the boot-room in the basement, which was a kind of cess-pool into which all the moral filth in the Hotel poured and finally accumulated.
Don John openly mocked Ernie.
"Here's Caspar!—Thought he'd have a chance against the toff!"
Ernie flashed round on him.
"Stow it!" he ordered.
The Austrian was afraid.