ABSTRACT
“Third storey—to the left, Madame,” said the cashier, handing me a pink ticket. “ One moment—I will ring for the elevator.” Her black satin skirt swished across the scarlet and gold hall, and she stood among the artificial palms, her white neck and powdered face topped with masses of gleaming orange hair—like an over-ripe fungus bursting from a thick, black stem. She rang and rang. “ A thousand pardons, Madame. It is disgraceful. A new attendant. He leaves this week.” With her fingers on the bell she peered into the cage as though she expected to see him, lying on the floor, like a dead bird. “ It is disgraceful ! ” There appeared from nowhere a tiny figure disguised in a peaked cap and dirty white cotton gloves. “ Here you are ! ” she scolded. “ Where have you been ? What have you been doing ? ” For answer the figure hid its face behind one of the white cotton gloves and sneezed twice. “ Ugh ! Disgusting ! Take Madame to the third storey ! ” The midget stepped aside, bowed, entered after me and clashed the gates to. We ascended, very slowly, to an accompaniment of sneezes and prolonged, half whistling sniffs. I asked the top of the patent leather cap : “ Have you a cold ? ” “ It is the air, Madame,” replied the creature, speaking through its nose with a restrained air of great relish, “ one is never dry here. Third floor—if you please,” sneezing over my ten-centime tip.
