of
wealth.

'The beauty of being well-known,' Racksole continued, 'is that you
needn't trouble about preliminary explanations. You, Mr Babylon,
probably know all about me. I know a good deal about you. We can take
each other for granted without reference. Really, it is as simple to buy
an hotel or a railroad as it is to buy a watch, provided one is equal to
the transaction.'

'Precisely,' agreed Mr Babylon smiling. 'Shall we draw up the little
informal contract? There are details to be thought of. But it occurs to
me that you cannot have dined yet, and might prefer to deal with minor
questions after dinner.'

'I have not dined,' said the millionaire, with emphasis, 'and in that
connexion will you do me a favour? Will you send for Mr Rocco?'

'You wish to see him, naturally.'

'I do,' said the millionaire, and added, 'about my dinner.'

'Rocco is a great man,' murmured Mr Babylon as he touched the bell,
ignoring the last words. 'My compliments to Mr Rocco,' he said to the
page who answered his summons, 'and if it is quite convenient I should
be glad to see him here for a moment.'

'What do you give Rocco?' Racksole inquired.

'Two thousand a year and the treatment of an Ambassador.'

'I shall give him the treatment of an Ambassador and three thousand.'

'You will be wise,' said Felix Babylon.

At that moment Rocco came into the room, very softly--a man of forty,
thin, with long, thin hands, and an inordinately long brown silky
moustache.

'Rocco,' said Felix Babylon, 'let me introduce Mr Theodore Racksole, of
New York.'

'Sharmed,' said Rocco, bowing. 'Ze--ze, vat you call it, millionaire?'

'Exactly,' Racksole put in, and continued quickly: 'Mr Rocco, I wish to
acquaint you before any other person with the fact that I have purchased
the Grand Babylon Hotel. If you think well to afford me the privilege of
retaining your services I shall be happy to offer you a remuneration of
three thousand a year.'

'Tree, you said?'

'Three.'

'Sharmed.'

'And now, Mr Rocco, will you oblige me very much by ordering a plain
beefsteak and a bottle of Bass to be served by Jules--I particularly
desire Jules--at table No. 17 in the dining-room in ten minutes from
now? And will you do me the honour of lunching with me to-morrow?'

Mr Rocco gasped, bowed, muttered something in French, and departed.

Five minutes later the buyer and seller of the Grand Babylon Hotel had
each signed a curt document, scribbled out on