Notwithstanding the fact that he never was known to have any money, he
was looked upon as a financier of the highest order. Which is saying a
great deal in these unfeeling days of pounds and shillings.
Of course Mrs. Odell-Carney was dressed as all rangy, long-limbed
Englishwomen are prone to dress,--after a model peculiarly not her own.
She looked ridiculously ungraceful alongside the smart, chic American
women, and yet not one of them but would have given her boots to be able
to array herself as one of these. There was no denying the fact that
Mrs. Odell-Carney was a "regular tip-topper," as Mr. Rodney was only too
eager to say. She had the air of a born leader; that is to say, she
could be gracious when occasion demanded, without being patronising.
In due course of time the Medcrofts and Miss Fowler were presented to
the distinguished couple. This function was necessarily delayed until
Odell-Carney had time to go into the details of a particularly annoying
episode of the afternoon. He was telling the story to his friend Rodney,
and of course everything was at a standstill until he got through.
It seems that Mr. Odell-Carney felt the need of a nap at three o'clock.
He gave strict injunctions that there was to be no noise in the halls
while he slept, and then went into his room and stretched out. Anyone
who has stopped at the Hotel Four Seasons will have no difficulty in
recalling the electric hall-bells which serve to attract the
chambermaids to given spots.
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