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The Egotist Becomes a Personage
Thechiefcharacteristicofthebigmanseemedtobeagreatconfidenceinhimselfsetoffagainstatremendousboredomwitheverythingaroundhim.Thatpartofhisfacewhichprotrudedunderthegoggleswaswhatisgenerallytermed"strong";rollsofnotundignifiedfathadcollectednearhischin;somewhereabovewasawidethinmouthandtheroughmodelforaRomannose,and,below,hisshoulderscollapsedwithoutastruggleintothepowerfulbulkofhischestandbelly.Hewasexcellentlyandquietlydressed.Amorynoticedthathewasinclinedtostarestraightatthebackofthechauffeur’sheadasifspeculatingsteadilybuthopelesslysomebafflinghirsuteproblem.
Thesmallermanwasremarkableonlyforhiscompletesubmersioninthepersonalityoftheother.Hewasofthatlowersecretarialtypewhoatfortyhaveengravedupontheirbusinesscards:"AssistanttothePresident,"andwithoutasighconsecratetherestoftheirlivestosecond-handmannerisms.
"Goingfar?"askedthesmallermaninapleasantdisinterestedway.
"Quiteastretch."
"Hikingforexercise?"
"No,"respondedAmorysuccinctly,"I’mwalkingbecauseIcan’taffordtoride."
"Oh."
Thenagain:
"Areyoulookingforwork?Becausethere’slotsofwork,"hecontinuedrathertestily."Allthistalkoflackofwork.TheWestisespeciallyshortoflabor."HeexpressedtheWestwithasweeping,lateralgesture.Amorynoddedpolitely.
"Haveyouatrade?"
No—Amoryhadnotrade.
"Clerk,eh?"
No—Amorywasnotaclerk.
