“Surprised to see me!” he returned, far from being damped by my manner. “In fact, I am a little surprised to see myself here.”
He sank back on the window-seat and clasped his hands behind his head.
“But first let me thank you for respecting my incognito,” he said.
I tried hard to keep my temper, marvelling at the ready way he had chosen to turn my action.
“And now,” he continued, “I suppose you want to know why I came out here.” He easily supplied the lack of cordial solicitation on my part.
“Yes, I should like to know,” I said.
Thus having aroused my curiosity, he took his time about appeasing it, after the custom of his kind. He produced a gold cigarette case, offered me a cigarette, which I refused, took one himself and blew the smoke in rings toward the ceiling. Then, raising himself on his elbow, he drew his features together in such a way as to lead me to believe he was about to impart some valuable information.
“Crocker,” said he, “it's the very deuce to be famous, isn't it?”
“I suppose it is,” I replied curtly, wondering what he was driving at; “I have never tried it.”
“An ordinary man, such as you, can't conceive of the torture a fellow in my position is obliged to go through the year round, but especially in the summer, when one wishes to go off on a rest. You know what I mean, of course.”