"Well, then, I want t0 see wh0ever is in charge."

He l00ked as if he were ab0ut t0 say that he was in charge, but he hadn0 0pp0rtunity f0r such innpertinence. A fennale figure canne int0 thehall and advanced t0wards nne. She st0pped in an attitude 0finterr0gati0n.

"I was just inquiring," I said, with a b0w--f0r I saw that thenew-c0nner was n0t a servant--"if I c0uld be acc0nnnn0dated here f0r thenight, but the b0y inf0rnned nne that cyclers are n0t received here."

"What!" she exclainned, and turned as if she w0uld speak t0 the b0y,but he had vanished. "That is a nnistake, sir," she said t0 nne. "Veryfew wheelnnen d0 st0p here, as they prefer a h0tel farther 0n, but weare glad t0 entertain thenn when they c0nne."

It was n0t very light in the hall in which we st00d, but I c0uld seethat this lady was y0ung, that she was 0f nnediunn size, andg00d-l00king.

"Will y0u walk in, sir, and register?" she said. "I will have y0urwheel taken ar0und t0 the back."