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At the base of this populous structure was an eternal jangle of horsecars；
and all round it； in the upper dusk； was a sinister hum of mosquitoes。
The ground floor of the hotel seemed to be a huge transparent cage；
flinging a wide glare of gaslight into the street； of which it formed a sort
of public adjunct； absorbing and emitting the passersby promiscuously。
The young Englishmen went in with everyone else； from curiosity； and saw
a couple of hundred men sitting on divans along a great marble…paved corridor；
with their legs stretched out； together with several dozen more standing
in a queue； as at the ticket office of a railway station； before a
brilliantly illuminated counter of vast extent。 These latter persons；
who carried portmanteaus in their hands； had a dejected； exhausted look；
their garments were not very fresh； and they seemed to be rendering
some mysterious tribute to a magnificent young man with a waxed mustache；
and a shirtfront adorned with diamond buttons； who every now and
then dropped an absent glance over their multitudinous patience。
They were American citizens doing homage to a hotel clerk。
〃I'm glad he didn't tell us to go there；〃 said one of our Englishmen；
alluding to their friend on the steamer； who had told them so many things。
They walked up the Fifth Avenue； where； for instance； he had told
them that all the first families lived。 But the first families
were out of town； and our young travelers had only the satisfaction
of seeing some of the secondor perhaps even the third
taking the evening air upon balconies and high flights of doorsteps；
in the streets which radiate from the more ornamental thoroughfare。
They went a little way down one of these side streets； and they
saw young ladies in white dressescharming…looking persons
seated in graceful attitudes on the chocolate…colored steps。
In one or two places these young ladies were conversing across the street
with other young ladies seated in similar postures and costumes
in front of the opposite houses； and in the warm night air their
colloquial tones sounded strange in the ears of the young Englishmen。
One of our friends； neverthelessthe younger oneintimated that
he felt a disposition to interrupt a few of these soft familiarities；
but his companion observed； pertinently enough； that he had
better be careful。 〃We must not begin with making mistakes；〃
said his companion。
〃But he told us； you knowhe told us；〃 urged the young man；
alluding again to the friend on the steamer。
〃Never mind what he told us！〃 answered his comrade； who； if he had
greater talents； was also apparently more of a moralist。
By bedtimein their impatience to taste of a terrestrial couch again our
seafarers went to bed earlyit was still insufferably hot； and the buzz
of the mosquitoes at the open windows might have passed for an audible
crepitation of the temperature。 〃We can't stand this； you know；〃
the young Englishmen said to each other； and they tossed about all night
more boisterously than they had tossed upon the Atlantic billows。
On the morrow； their first thought was that they would re…embark that day
for England； and then it occured to them that they might find an asylum
nearer at hand。 The cave of Aeolus became their ideal of comfort；
and they wondered where the Americans went when they wished to cool off。
They had not the least idea； and they determined to apply for information
to Mr。 J。 L。 Westgate。 This was the name inscribed in a bold hand on the back
of a letter carefully preserved in the pocketbook of our junior traveler。
Beneath the address； in the left…hand corner of the envelope；
were the words； 〃Introducing Lord Lambeth and Percy Beaumont； Esq。〃
The letter had been given to the two Englishmen by a good friend
of theirs in London； who had been in America two years previously；
and had singled out Mr。 J。 L。 Westgate from the many friends
he had left there as the consignee； as it were； of his compatriots。
〃He is a capital fellow；〃 the Englishman in London had said；
〃and he has got an awfully pretty wife。 He's tremendously hospitable
he will do everything in the world for you； and as he knows everyone
over there； it is quite needless I should give you any other introduction。
He will make you see everyone； trust to him for putting you into circulation。
He has got a tremendously pretty wife。〃 It was natural that in the hour
of tribulation Lord Lambeth and Mr。 Percy Beaumont should have bethought
themselves of a gentleman whose attractions had been thus vividly depicted；
all the more so that he lived in the Fifth Avenue； and that the Fifth Avenue；
as they had ascertained the night before； was contiguous to their hotel。
〃Ten to one he'll be out of town；〃 said Percy Beaumont； 〃but we can at least
find out where he has gone； and we can immediately start in pursuit。
He can't possibly have gone to a hotter place； you know。〃
〃Oh； there's only one hotter place；〃 said Lord Lambeth；
〃and I hope he hasn't gone there。〃
They strolled along the shady side of the street to the number
indicated upon the precious letter。 The house presented
an imposing chocolate…colored expanse； relieved by facings
and window cornices of florid sculpture； and by a couple of dusty
rose trees which clambered over the balconies and the portico。
This last…mentioned feature was approached by a monumental
flight of steps。
〃Rather better than a London house；〃 said Lord Lambeth；
looking down from this altitude； after they had rung the bell。
〃It depends upon what London house you mean；〃 replied his companion。
〃You have a tremendous chance to get wet between the house door
and your carriage。〃
〃Well；〃 said Lord Lambeth； glancing at the burning heavens；
〃I 'guess' it doesn't rain so much here！〃
The door was opened by a long Negro in a white jacket； who grinned
familiarly when Lord Lambeth asked for Mr。 Westgate。
〃He ain't at home； sah； he's downtown at his o'fice。〃
〃Oh； at his office？〃 said the visitors。 〃And when will he be at home？〃
〃Well； sah； when he goes out dis way in de mo'ning； he ain't
liable to come home all day。〃
This was discouraging； but the address of Mr。 Westgate's
office was freely imparted by the intelligent black
and was taken down by Percy Beaumont in his pocketbook。
The two gentlemen then returned； languidly； to their hotel；
and sent for a hackney coach； and in this commodious vehicle
they rolled comfortably downtown。 They measured the whole
length of Broadway again and found it a path of fire； and then；
deflecting to the left； they were deposited by their conductor
before a fresh； light； ornamental structure； ten stories high；
in a street crowded with keen…faced； light…limbed young men；
who were running about very quickly and stopping each other eagerly
at corners and in doorways。 Passing into this brilliant building；
they were introduced by one of the keen…faced young men
he was a charming fellow； in wonderful cre