midday
For the moment I had other plans ; it was my intention to follow George 's example and pay a short call upon `` Mademoiselle Vivien . '' I walked back , and throwing away the end of my cigar , entered the doorway again and started off up the stairs . I imagined that by going as an ordinary client I should find no difficulty in getting admitted , but if I did I was fully prepared to bribe or bluff , or adopt any method that might be necessary to achieve my purpose . I would not leave until I had at least seen the gifted object of George 's midday rambles . I reached the second landing , where I was faced by a green door with a quaintly carved electric bell in the shape of an Egyptian girl 's head , a red stone in the centre of the forehead forming what appeared to be the button . Anyhow I pressed it and waited , and a moment later the door swung silently open . A small but very alert page-boy who looked like an Italian was standing on the mat .