TheyknewnoneofthehotelsinRochester，andtheyhadchosenacertainoneinrelianceupontheirhandbook。Whentheynamedit，theresteppedforthaporterofanincrediblycordialandpleasantcountenance，whotooktheirtravelling-bags，andledthemtotheomnibus。Astheywerehisonlypassengers，theportergotinsidewiththem，andseeingtheirinterestinthestreetsthroughwhichtheyrode，hedescantedinastrainofcheerfulprideuponthecity’sprosperityandcharacter，andgavethenamesofthepeoplewholivedinthefinerhouses，justasifithadbeenanOld-Worldtown，andhesomeeagerhistorianexpectingrewardforhiscommentuponit。HecastquiteaglamouroverRochester，sothatinpassingabodyofwater，borderedbyhouses，andoverlookedbyoddbalconiesandgalleries，andcrossedinthedistancebyabridgeuponwhichotherhouseswerebuilt，theyboldlydeclared，beingattheirwit’sendforacomparison，andtakenwiththeunhoped-forpicturesqueness，thatitputtheminmindofVerona。Thustheyreachedtheirhotelinalmostaspiritofforeigntravel，andverywillingtoverifythepleasantporter’sassurancethattheywouldlikeit，foreverybodylikedit；anditwaswithasuddensinkingoftheheartthatBasilbeheldpresidingovertheregistertheconventionalAmericanhotelclerk。Hewasyoung，hehadaneatmustacheandwell-brushedhair；jeweledstudssparkledinhisshirt-front，andringsonhiswhitehands；agentledisdainofthetravellingpublicbreathedfromhispersoninthemysticalodorsofIhlangihlang。Hedidnotlifthishaughtyheadtolookatthewayfarerwhomeeklywrotehisnameintheregister；bedidnotanswerhimwhenhebeggedforacoolroom；heturnedtotheboardonwhichthekeyshung，and，pluckingonefromit，slidittowardsBasilonthemarblecounter，touchedabellforacall-boy，whistledabarofOffenbach，andashewrotethenumberoftheroomagainstBasil’sname，saidtoafriendloungingnearhim，asifresumingaconversation，“Well，she’samightypootygul，anyway，Chawley！“
WhenIreflectthatthiswasatypeofthehotelclerkthroughouttheUnitedStates，thatbehindunnumberedregistersatthismomentheissnubbingtravellersintothedust，andthattheyaresufferingandperpetuatinghim，Iamlostinwonderatthenationalmeekness。NotthatIamonetorefusethehumblepiehisjeweledfingersofferme。AbjectlyItakemykey，andcreepoffupstairsafterthecall-boy，andtrytogivemyselfthegenteelairofonewhohasnotbeensteppedupon。ButI
thinkhomicidalthingsallthesame，andIrejoicethatinthesafetyofprintIcancryoutagainstthedespot，whomIhavenotthepresencetodefy。“Youvulgarandcruellittlesoul，“Isay，andIimaginemyselfbreathingthewordstohisteeth，“whydoyoutreatawearystrangerwiththisignominy？IamtopaywellforwhatIget，andIshallnotcomplainofthat。Butlookatme，andownmyhumanity；confessbysomecivilaction，bysomedecentphrase，thatIhaverightsandthattheyshallberespected。Answermyproperquestions；respondtomyfairdemands。Donotslidemykeyatme；donotdenymethepoorpolitenessofanodasyougiveitinmyhand。Iamnotyourequal；fewmenare；butIshallnotpresumeuponyourclemency。Come，Ialsoamhuman！“
Basilfoundthat，forhissininaskingforacoolroom，theclerkhadgiventhemachamberintowhichthesunhadbeenshiningthewholeafternoon；butwhenhisluggagehadbeenputinitseemeduselesstoprotest，andlikeatrueAmerican，likeyou，likeme，heshrankfromassertinghimself。Whenthesunwentdownitwouldbecoolenough；andtheyturnedtheirthoughtstosupper，notventuringtohopethat，asitproved，thehandsomeclerkwasthesoleblemishofthehouse。
IsabelviewedwithinnocentsurprisetheevidencesofluxuryaffordedbyalltheappointmentsofahotelsofarwestofBoston，andtheybothbegantofeelthatnaturaleaseandsuperioritywhichaninnalwaysinspiresinitsguests，andwhichourgreathotels，farfromimpairing，enhanceinflatteringdegree；infact，theclerkonceforgotten，I