“Sorry, ma’am.”
“Do you know when he will be home?”
“If this is the lidy ’e was expectin’ to call this evenin’—”
“Yes?” the dulcet voice said, encouragingly.
“—Mister Lanyard sed as ’ow ’e might be quite lite, but ’e’d ’urry all ’e could, ma’am, and would the lidy please wite.”
“Thank you so much.”
“’Nk-you, ma’am.”
Smiling, Lanyard replaced the receiver and rang for the waiter.
When that one answered, the adventurer was hatted and coated and opening his door.
“I’m called out,” he said—“can’t quite say when I’ll be back. But I’m expecting a lady to call. Will you tell the doorman to show her into my rooms, please, and ask her to wait.”