“No. She hired a car — said something about being driven to the nearest place where she could charter a plane.”
I said, “Just a minute. I’m coming down. I want to talk with you.”
I threw my things into my bag, went down to the lobby, and said, “I have to leave — urgent business. Please make out my bill at once. Now, Mrs. Lintig had some spectacles ordered.”
“Yes,” the clerk said, “a most unfortunate accident. The hotel agreed to assume responsibility, although I’m not entirely certain we were to blame.”
“When those glasses come,” I said, “forward them to me at this address.”
I scribbled my address on the back of a card. “They may come C.O.D.,” I said, “or they may be prepaid. In any event, just forward them to me. If there’s a C.O.D., I’ll take it up and relieve the hotel of responsibility. I’m related to Mrs. Lintig. She’s my aunt — but please don’t say anything about it — she’s very sensitive, and she used to live here, you know. There was a divorce. I’ll pay for the glasses.”
“Yes, Mr. Lam. That’s very nice of you.”
I loaded my hag into the agency car and started out for Santa Carlotta.
Chapter Four
It was exactly nine-five a.m. when I entered the office of Dr. Charles Alftmont. A nurse who radiated hatchet-Faced efficiency asked me my name, address, and occupation. I told her I was a travelling man who had developed some eye trouble, and the heavy dark glasses which I was wearing bore out my statement. I gave her a fictitious name and address and told her I wanted to see Dr. Alftmont at once.