Within three minutes the elevator opened and Robert Kellerman, the general manager, hurried across the lobby, adjusting his jacket, looking annoyed at the interruption — until his eyes found Wescott, and his whole posture came apart.

“Mr.

Hargreave.

Sir, I had no idea you were arriving tonight.”

“That was the point, Robert.”

The collapse of the man’s bearing told Wescott most of what he needed to know about how the hotel was run.