While Barbara was dressing the manager of the hotel waited upon me, and to my surprise handed me my account. As I had not been in the house twenty-four hours I inquired if it was usual for his visitors to pay from day to day. No, he replied blandly it was not usual. Then why call upon me so soon for payment? Did he mistrust me? He was shocked at the suggestion. Mistrust an English gentleman? Certainly not—no, no. This with perfect politeness and much deprecatory waving of his hands.
"But you expect a settlement of this account," I said, irritated by his manner.
"If monsieur pleases. And if monsieur will be so obliging as to seek another hotel in which he will be more comfortable, more at his ease——"
"I understand," I said. "You turn me out. Why?"
"If monsieur will be pleased to listen. The servants were not used to the ways of monsieur and madame; and there had been complaints from visitors. The sick gentleman in the next apartment——"
"Enough," I said, impatiently. "I leave your hotel within the hour, and I will never set foot in it again."
He was grieved, devastated, but if monsieur had so resolved——
These uncompleted sentences were very significant, and afforded a sufficiently clear explanation of the proceeding. With suppressed anger I ran my eye down the account, and pointed to an item of five francs for brandy.
"Supplied this morning," he explained, "to monsieur's order. Five francs—yes, monsieur would find it quite correct."
"I required only a small glass," I said. "It is an imposition."