At that moment I
thought I was going to Switzerland. It had occurred to me that after
all I should be happier there, and that I had better turn back and
not see London any more. However, I changed my mind once
again, and decided to come on to London, and accept the risks of
being miserable there without my hotel. Then I asked Jules
whither he was bound, and he told me that he was off to
Constantinople, being interested in a new French hotel there. I
wished him good luck, and we parted.'
'Constantinople, eh!' said Racksole. 'A highly suitable place for
him, I should say.'
'But,' Babylon resumed, 'I caught sight of him again.'
'Where?'
'At Charing Cross, a few minutes before I had the pleasure of
meeting you.
Mr Jules had not gone to Constantinople after all. He did not see
me, or I should have suggested to him that in going from Paris to
Constantinople it is not usual to travel via London.'
'The cheek of the fellow!' exclaimed Theodore Racksole. 'The
gorgeous and colossal cheek of the fellow!'
Chapter Twenty-Two IN THE WINE CELLARS OF THE GRAND
BABYLON
'DO you know anything of the antecedents of this Jules,' asked
Theodore Racksole, helping himself to whisky.
'Nothing whatever,' said Babylon. 'Until you told me, I don't think I
was aware that his true name was Thomas Jackson, though of
course I knew that it was not Jules. I certainly was not aware that
Miss Spencer was his wife, but I had long suspected that their
relations were somewhat more intimate than the nature of their
respective duties in the hotel absolutely demanded.
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