There is also a
singularly glorious Persian wine from Shiraz, the like of which I
have never seen elsewhere. Also there is an unrivalled vintage of
Roman?e-Conti, greatest of all modern Burgundies. If I remember
right Prince Eugen invariably has a bottle when he comes to stay
here. It is not on the hotel wine list, of course, and only a few
customers know of it. We do not precisely hawk it about the
dining-room.'
'Indeed!' said Racksole. 'Let us go inside.'
They entered the stone apartment, rendered almost sacred by the
preciousness of its contents, and Racksole looked round with a
strangely intent and curious air. At the far side was a grating,
through which came a feeble light.
'What is that?' asked the millionaire sharply.
'That is merely a ventilation grating. Good ventilation is absolutely
essential.'
'Looks broken, doesn't it?' Racksole suggested and then, putting a
finger quickly on Babylon's shoulder, 'there's someone in the
cellar. Can't you hear breathing, down there, behind that bin?'
The two men stood tense and silent for a while, listening, under
the ray of the single electric light in the ceiling. Half the cellar was
involved in gloom. At length Racksole walked firmly down the
central passage-way between the bins and turned to the corner at
the right.
'Come out, you villain!' he said in a low, well-nigh vicious tone,
and dragged up a cowering figure.
Pages:
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219