The early morning on Cork Street maintained its due tranquility and vitality, thanks to the efforts of the Countess's guard.
The cries of the paperboys, like alarm clocks, roused each family from their sleep, as mothers began to prepare breakfast and fathers habitually went out to buy newspapers.
Familiar neighbors greeted each other in the yards.
When Old Charlie was around, he always greeted the surrounding neighbors with an enthusiastic smile.
After Arthur took over, it was the same—although with Arthur's recent rise to fame in the past half month, the neighbors' smiles turned somewhat stiff when they saw him.
Moreover, they would quickly return indoors using various excuses and pretenses.
It was no different this morning—
"Good morning!"
"Morning, morning, sorry, I need to use the bathroom!"
