"But," continued the Infanta, "it is our duty to inform you that hot water has been forbidden by the municipal authorities, and that cold water is limited to two pitchers per person, per room." I said I would take number six, which arrangement terminated the ladies' mental indecision, and seemed to please them greatly. They smiled benignly upon us. The smaller one, whom I have called the coadjutor, because her throne was less elevated than the princess', put her finger on a button and a violent ringing broke the silence of the vast hallway. No one answered. Three times she repeated the rings, with an imperious movement. "Be kind enough to go and call Monsieur Amede, Mademoiselle Laure." On her feet, Mademoiselle Laure was even smaller than when seated. She crossed the vestibule, opened a door, and her strong voice resounded along an empty corridor from which issued the odour of boiling cauliflower. "Monsieur Amede!" she shouted anew, but not even an echo responded. "Mademoiselle Laure, ask for the head waiter." Mademoiselle Laure recrossed the vestibule and opening a door diametrically opposed to the other, called: "Monsieur Balthazard!" Monsieur Balthazard appeared, his shirt sleeves rolled up beyond his elbow, wiping his hands on a blue gingham apron. He was a little slim man who may have been sixty years old. A glass eye gave him a sardonic, comic or astonished air, according to the way he used his good one, which was constantly moving, at the same time that it was clear and piercing. "Monsieur Balthazard--what an attire for a head waiter!" "Madame, I was just rinsing the wine barrels." "And how about the errands for the people in rooms twenty-four and twenty-seven." A noise at the hall door attracted our attention. It was as though some one were making desperate and fruitless attempts to open it. "There he is now," exclaimed Monsieur Balthazard. "I'll go and let him in. He's probably got his hands full." Monsieur Amede, literally swamped beneath his bundles, staggered into the vestibule. To the different errands confided to his charge by the hotel's guests had undoubtedly been added the cook's list, for an enormous cabbage and a bunch of leeks completely hid his face, which was uncovered only as he let them fall to the ground. When he had finally deposited his treasures, we discovered a small lad about fourteen or fifteen years of age, dressed in a bellboy's uniform which had been made for some one far more corpulent of stature. The sleeves reached far down over his hands, the tight fitting, gold buttoned jacket strangely resembled a cross between a bag and an overcoat, and though a serious reef had been taken in the trousers at the waist line, the legs would twist and sway--at times being almost as ample as those worn by the Turkish sultanas. Our coachman now arrived with our luggage. "Monsieur Amede, take this luggage and accompany Monsieur and Madame to number six."