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deciphering with the
effort necessary to those more accustomed to word-reading the three pictures
which represent first a frilly maid with a long-handled duster over her
shoulder, next a waiter carrying a tray and lastly a man in buttoned uniform
bearing a folded garment over his arm. Lise presses the maid. A light goes on
in the box illuminating the picture. Lise sits on the bed and waits. Then she
takes off her shoes and, watching the door for a few seconds more, presses the
buttoned valet who likewise does not come. Nor does room-service after many
more minutes. Lise lifts the telephone, demands the concierge and complains in
a torrent that the bell-pushes bring no answer, the room is dirty, the
tooth-glass has not been changed since the last guest left, the central light
needs a new bulb, and that the bed, contrary to the advance specifications of
her travel agency, has a too-soft mattress. The concierge advises her to press
the bell for the maid.
    Lise
has started reciting her list over again from the beginning, when the maid does
appear with a question-mark on her face. Lise puts down the receiver rather
loudly and points to the light which the maid tries for herself, then, nodding
her understanding of the case, makes to leave. ‘Wait!’ says Lise, first in
English then in French, to neither of which the maid responds. Lise produces the
glass with its Alka-Seltzers nestled at the bottom. ‘Filthy!’ Lise says in
English. The maid obligingly fills the glass from the tap and hands it to Lise.
‘Dirty!’ Lise shouts in French. The maid understands, laughs at the happening,
and this time makes a quick getaway with the glass in her hand.
    Lise
slides open the cupboard, pulls down a wooden hanger and throws it across the
room with a clatter, then lies down on the bed. Presently she looks at her
watch. It is five past one. She opens her suitcase and carefully extracts a
short dressing-gown. She takes out a dress, hangs it in the cupboard, takes it
off the hanger again, folds it neatly and puts it back. She takes out her
sponge-bag and bedroom slippers, undresses, puts on her dressing-gown and goes into
the bathroom, shutting the door. She has reached the point of taking a shower
when she hears voices from her room, a scraping sound, a man‘s and a girl’s.
Putting forth her head from the bathroom door, she sees a man in light brown
overalls with a pair of steps and an electric light bulb, accompanied by the
maid. Lise comes out in her dressing-gown without having properly dried herself
in the evident interest of protecting her hand-bag which lies on the bed. Her
dressing-gown clings damply to her. ‘Where is the tooth-glass?’ Lise demands. ‘I
must have a glass for water.’ The maid touches her head to denote forgetfulness
and departs with a swish of her skirt, never to return within Lise’s
cognizance. However, Lise soon makes known her need for a drinking-glass on the
telephone to the concierge, threatening to leave the hotel immediately if she
doesn’t get her water-glass right away.
    While
waiting for the threat to take effect Lise again considers the contents of her
suitcase. This seems to present her with a problem, for she takes out a pink
cotton dress, hangs it in the cupboard, then after hesitating for a few seconds
she takes it off the hanger again, folds it carefully and lays it back in her
case. It may be that she is indeed contemplating an immediate departure from
the hotel. But when another maid arrives with two drinking-glasses, apologies
in Italian and the explanation that the former maid had gone off duty, Lise
continues to look through her belongings in a puzzled way, taking nothing
further out of her suitcase.
    This
maid, seeing laid out on the bed the bright-coloured dress and coat in which
Lise had arrived, inquires amiably if Madam is going to the beach.
    ‘No,’
says Lise.
    ‘You
American?’ says the maid.
    ‘No,’
Lise says.
    ‘English?’
    ‘No.’
Lise turns her back to continue