2Dick was walking nervously up and down his room, chewing a cigar. It was very demoralising to be trapped; to be obliged to wait inactively for your enemies’ next move. In the meantime d**k had dined, and darkness had fallen. After dinner all the other guests at the Southview had gone out to hear the band concert; and d**k, finding the empty public rooms intolerable, had come upstairs. He did not care to risk walking in the dark streets. The lights of the room across the street were on; but the curtains were drawn.
At the sound of a discreet tapping on his door, d**k turned eagerly. Any interruption was welcome. It might be the pretty chambermaid with fresh towels, or the rosy-cheeked “buttons” with whom d**k was already on friendly terms. It might even be Abrams sending up his name. Shou
