ark folding doors opened, and I had a glimpse of a great room where an
enormously fat man sat in the curve of a vast horseshoe shaped desk. It
was only a momentary view, you understand, of the diffused light shed by
three tall windows upon a chamber of unusual size. I had an impression
of glancing into a museum, a glimpse of a statue, very white and tall
with an arm broken off short, gleaming glass cases of small things that
shone like opals and aquamarines, and great bunches of coral like
petrified foam. I saw all this as the door stood for a moment, the
fezzed head of a little old gentleman looking out and mumbling the word
'_Kapitan!_' We stood up. Jack made a movement to go in. Monsieur
Nikitos came between us and regarded us as though we were conspirators.

"'Monsieur Gruenbaum will see the Kapitan,' he remarked in a loud voice,
and then in a whisper, 'Of this--not a word,' And he pressed his
knuckles to his lips. And then Jack passed into the room, the door
closed softly, and I was alone with Monsieur Nikitos.

"My feelings at that moment, you know, were mixed. I was astonished.
I was amused. I was indignant. I looked at the frock-coated
figure before me with an expression of profound distaste and
contempt. He gave me a confidential smile and indicated a chair.
I sat down, looking at the closed folding doors. And as I sat
there I became aware that Monsieur Nikitos was indulging in
a whispered monologue. I caught the words--man of wide views--great
wealth--vast experience--unlimited prospects--unique grasp of
detail--necessary in affairs--man of affairs ... and then, in
a lower tone--daughter--beauty--happiness--future--efforts
redoubled--found fortunes--ideals--cannot express feelings--humble
aspirations--many years--ambition--travel....

"I suppose I must have made some sound to indicate my coherent interest
in this unlooked-for rigmarole, for he sprang up, and placed himself
between me and the folding doors. He bent his head to my ear. He desired
to know if I considered my Kapitan reliable. Would he invest? That was
the thing. Would he invest? Had he character? Why did he ask? Because he
had a design. The Swedish Kapitan who had invested was a single man, a
man of no education, I was to understand--no culture. But my Kapitan was
a married man. Of course he would settle in Saloniki, that fairest
jewel in the Turkish crown. He himself knew a house in a good
street--just the thing. He was anxious about this becau