"The same number sometimes
comes a dozen times in succession at roulette." She sent her handy
man, secretary, social manager and organizer, mattre d'hotel,
companion, scout, gossip, purveyor of comfort, J. Worthington
Whitesides, to seek out Craig and to bring him before her
forthwith.
As Mr. Whitesides was a tremendous swell, in dress, in manner and
in accent, Craig was much impressed when he came into his office
in the Department of Justice. Whitesides' manner, the result of
Madam Bowker's personal teaching, was one of his chief assets in
maintaining and extending her social power. It gave the greatest
solemnity and dignity to a summons from her, filled the recipient
with pleasure and with awe, prepared him or her to be duly
impressed and in a frame of mind suitable to Madam Bowker's
purposes.
"I come from Madam Bowker," he explained to Craig, humbly
conscious of his own disarray and toiler's unkemptness. "She would
be greatly obliged if you will give her a few minutes of your
time. She begs you to excuse the informality. She has sent me in
her carriage, and it will be a great satisfaction to her if you
will accompany me."
Craig's first impulse of snobbish satisfaction was immediately
followed by misgivings.
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