The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Grand Babylon Hotel, by Arnold Bennett

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Title: The Grand Babylon Hotel

Author: Arnold Bennett

Posting Date: December 14, 2008 [EBook #2813]
Release Date: September, 2001

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GRAND BABYLON HOTEL ***

Produced by David Reed

THE GRAND BABYLON HOTEL

By Arnold Bennett

T. Racksole & Daughter

Chapter One THE MILLIONAIRE AND THE WAITER

'YES, sir?'

Jules, the celebrated head waiter of the Grand Babylon, was bending
formally towards the alert, middle-aged man who had just entered the
smoking-room and dropped into a basket-chair in the corner by the
conservatory. It was 7.45 on a particularly sultry June night, and
dinner was about to be served at the Grand Babylon. Men of all sizes,
ages, and nationalities, but every one alike arrayed in faultless
evening dress, were dotted about the large, dim apartment. A faint odour
of flowers came from the conservatory, and the tinkle of a fountain.
The waiters, commanded by Jules, moved softly across the thick Oriental
rugs, balancing their trays with the dexterity of jugglers, and
receiving and executing orders with that air of profound importance of
which only really first-class waiters have the secret. The atmosphere
was an atmosphere of serenity and repose, characteristic of the Grand
Babylon. It seemed impossible that anything could occur to mar the
peaceful, aristocratic monotony of existence in that perfectly-managed
establishment. Yet on that night was to happen the mightiest upheaval
that the Grand Babylon had ever known.

'Yes, sir?' repeated Jules, and this time there was a shade of august
disapproval in his voice: it was not usual for him to have to address a
customer twice.

'Oh!' said the alert, middle-aged man, looking up at length. Beautifully
ignorant of the identity of the great Jules, he allowed his grey eyes
to twinkle as he caught sight of the expression on the waiter's face.
'Bring me an Angel Kiss.'

'Pardon, sir?'

'Bring me an Angel Kiss, and be good enough to lose no time.'

'If it's an American drink, I fear we don't keep it, sir.' T