No such room on the first floor as Number Fourteen.

The room bearing that number is on the second floor, and has been occupied by me, from the day when the hotel opened.

Perhaps you meant number 13 A, on the first floor?
It will be at your service to-morrow--a charming room.

In the mean time, we will do the best we can for you, to-night.' A man who is the successful manager of a theatre is probably the last man in the civilized universe who is capable of being impressed with favourable opinions of his fellow-creatures.

Francis privately set the manager down as a humbug, and the story about the numbering of the rooms as a lie.
On the day of his arrival, he dined by himself in the restaurant, before the hour of the table d'hote, for the express purpose of questioning the waiter, without being overheard by anybody.