Found in the street by Patricia Highsmith

Author:Patricia Highsmith [Highsmith, Patricia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: New York : Atlantic Monthly Press
Published: 1987-11-21T05:00:00+00:00

Jack approached the Hotel Chelsea smiling with anticipation. He had walked up from Grove at a fast clip but slowed as he turned the corner east into Twenty-third Street. No sign of Elsie or a cameraman out in front as yet. This was Elsie's first big job. She had called up last night, sounding nervous and happy, and had asked if Natalia or he, or both, could come around noon to the Chelsea, because Berkman was taking pictures out in front starting at 11. Natalia said she couldn't, because of work and a lunch date with Isabel and some buyers. It was another damned cold day with a wind kicking up dust and grit, hurtling litter of all kinds along the sidewalk on Twenty-third. Jack pressed his gloved hands against his ears, and entered the Hotel Chelsea.

He spotted Elsie at once in the back left corner of the lobby, standing near one of the black bench seats, surrounded by a few curious people, mostly male, and there was Berkman, Jack assumed, a plump dark-haired man with his camera on a tripod. Elsie stood in a black sleeveless dress with hand on hip, wearing a wide-brimmed hat, and with a huge white flower like an oversized chrysanthemum fixed above her right breast.

"Back, please!" said Berkman, motioning to the little crowd, and stepping back himself with his camera.

Elsie looked up at the ceiling near the door, but she had seen Jack, who was standing between her and the front door, and had given him a quick smile.

"Ser-rious," said Berkman. He took two or three shots.

"Ho-ho!" said a young man in levis and sweater, and clapped.

Other men clapped, smiled, and some drifted away while others, coming in through the front door, lingered to watch.

"Where's her coat, Hester? We're going out," said Berkman.

Jack stepped nearer a wall of the lobby.

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