A glance
at the clock showed him that he had a full half-hour to wait; and, as
much to escape the buzzing lobbyists as to satisfy his hunger, he went
to the _cafe_ and ordered a belated dinner, choosing a table from which
he could look out through the open doors and command the main entrance
through which the theatre-goers would return.
He was through with the dinner, and was slowly sipping his black coffee,
when he saw them come in. Since it was no part of his plan to dull the
edge of opportunity by holding it first upon the social grindstone, he
let the party of three go on to the elevators, and a little later sent a
card up-stairs asking his father to meet him in the lounge on the
mezzanine floor.
Having the advantage of time, he was first at the appointed
meeting-place. He had drawn a chair to the balustrade, and was glooming
thoughtfully down at the lobby gathering, upon which even the lateness
of the hour appeared to have no dispersing effect, when a mellow voice
behind him said: "Well, son, taking a quiet little squint at the
menagerie?"
Blount got up and gave the speaker his chair, dragging up another for
himself. The senator sat down and stretched his great frame like a man
wearied. "Ah, Lord!" he said. "The old man isn't as young as he used to
be, Evan, boy. There was a time once when eleven o'clock didn't seem any
later to me than it does now to you; but it's gone by, son, and I don't
reckon it'll ever come back again.
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