Hearing footsteps, the man turned with a start.
It was Jules.
The two exchanged glances in the half light for a second.
'Good evening, Mr Racksole,' said Jules calmly. 'I must apologize
for being here.'
'Force of habit, I suppose,' said Theodore Racksole drily.
'Just so, sir.'
'I fancied I had forbidden you to re-enter this hotel?'
'I thought your order applied only to my professional capacity. I am
here to-night as the guest of Mr and Mrs Sampson Levi.'
'In your new r?le of man-about-town, eh?'
'Exactly.'
'But I don't allow men-about-town up here, my friend.'
'For being up here I have already apologized.'
'Then, having apologized, you had better depart; that is my
disinterested advice to you.'
'Good night, sir.'
'And, I say, Mr Jules, if Mr and Mrs Sampson Levi, or any other
Hebrews or Christians, should again invite you to my hotel you
will oblige me by declining the invitation. You'll find that will be
the safest course for you.'
'Good night, sir.'
Before midnight struck Theodore Racksole had ascertained that
the invitation-list of Mr and Mrs Sampson Levi, though a
somewhat lengthy one, contained no reference to any such person
as Jules.
He sat up very late. To be precise, he sat up all night. He was a
man who, by dint of training, could comfortably dispense with
sleep when he felt so inclined, or when circumstances made such a
course advisable.
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