I have heard of such things.'
'We sha'n't sell again, Prince, until we are tired of our bargain.
Sometimes we tire very quickly, and sometimes we don't. It
depends - eh? What?'
Racksole broke off suddenly to attend to a servant in livery who
had quietly entered the bureau and was making urgent mysterious
signs to him.
'If you please, sir,' the man by frantic gestures implored Mr
Theodore Racksole to come out.
'Pray don't let me detain you, Mr Racksole,' said the Prince, and
therefore the proprietor of the Grand Babylon departed after the
servant, with a queer, curt little bow to Prince Aribert.
'Mayn't I come inside?' said the Prince to Nella immediately the
millionaire had gone.
'Impossible, Prince,' Nella laughed. 'The rule against visitors
entering this bureau is frightfully strict.'
'How do you know the rule is so strict if you only came into
possession last night?'
'I know because I made the rule myself this morning, your
Highness.'
'But seriously, Miss Racksole, I want to talk to you.'
'Do you want to talk to me as Prince Aribert or as the friend - the
acquaintance - whom I knew in Paris' last year?'
'As the friend, dear lady, if I may use the term.'
'And you are sure that you would not like first to be conducted to
your apartments?'
'Not yet. I will wait till Dimmock comes; he cannot fail to be here
soon.'
'Then we will have tea served in father's private room - the
proprietor's private room, you know.
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