gentle cough. Jules stood over them. It must have been out
of a pure spirit of adventure that he had selected this table for his
own services. Usually Jules did not personally wait at dinner. He merely
hovered observant, like a captain on the bridge during the mate's watch.
Regular frequenters of the hotel felt themselves honoured when Jules
attached himself to their tables.

Theodore Racksole hesitated one second, and then issued the order with a
fine air of carelessness:

'Filleted steak for two, and a bottle of Bass.' It was the bravest act
of Theodore Racksole's life, and yet at more than one previous crisis a
high courage had not been lacking to him.

'It's not in the menu, sir,' said Jules the imperturbable.

'Never mind. Get it. We want it.'

'Very good, sir.'

Jules walked to the service-door, and, merely affecting to look behind,
came immediately back again.

'Mr Rocco's compliments, sir, and he regrets to be unable to serve steak
and Bass to-night, sir.'

'Mr Rocco?' questioned Racksole lightly.

'Mr Rocco,' repeated Jules with firmness.

'And who is Mr Rocco?'

'Mr Rocco is our chef, sir.' Jules had the expression of a man who is
asked to explain who Shakespeare was.

The two men looked at each other. It seemed incredible that Theodore
Racksole, the ineffable Racksole, who owned a thousand miles of railway,
several towns, and sixty votes in Congress, should be defied by a
waiter, or even by a whole hotel. Yet so it was. When Europe's effete
back is against the wall not a regiment of millionaires can turn its
flank. Jules had the calm expression of a strong man sure of victory.
His face said: 'You beat me once, but not this time, my New York
friend!'

As for Nella, knowing her father, she foresaw interesting events, and
waited confidently for the steak. She did not feel hungry, and she could
afford to wait.

'Excuse me a moment, Nella,' said Theodore Racksole quietly, 'I shall be
back in about two seconds,' and he strode out of the salle a manger.
No one in the room recognized the millionaire, for he was unknown to
London, this being his first visit to Europe for over twenty years. Had
anyone done so, and caught the expression on his face, that man might
have trembled for an explosion which should have blown the entire Grand
Babylon into the Thames.

Jules retired strategically to a corner. He had fired; it was the
antagonist's turn. A long and varied experience had taught Jules that a
gue