Summary

In the chapter “The Excelsior,” Max sends Karl in his car to get Hildy. The Countess gives her a round, jeweled compact as a gift. Outside, Hildy asks why “he” was so nice to them. After Karl recovers from his shock that Hildy knew the Countess was a man, he tells her the story of Bertram and their father being in the war together. At the hotel, Karl and Hildy go in through a service entrance and are snuck into Max’s apartment. Max makes calls, trying to find their parents, and then leaves them alone while he goes out. While he’s out, housekeeping comes to clean. Hildy hides in a trunk while Karl conceals himself on top of a wardrobe in the closet. Max has no news when he returns but curses himself for...