Отель «Гранд Вавилон» / The Grand Babylon hotel

’

The millionaire smiled appreciatively. �What wages do you require in lieu of notice? It is my intention that you leave the hotel within an hour.’

�I require no wages in lieu of notice, sir. I would scorn to accept anything. And I will leave the hotel in fifteen minutes.’

�Good-day, then. You have my good wishes and my admiration, so long as you keep out of my hotel.’

Racksole got up. �Good-day, sir. And thank you.’

�By the way, Jules, it will be useless for you to apply to any other first-rate European hotel for a post, because I shall take measures which will ensure the rejection of any such application.

�Without discussing the question whether or not there aren’t at least half a dozen hotels in London alone that would jump for joy at the chance of getting me,’ answered Jules, �I may tell you, sir, that I shall retire from my profession.’

�Really! You will turn your brains to a different channel.

�No, sir. I shall take rooms in Albemarle Street or Jermyn Street, and just be content to be a man-about-town. I have saved some twenty thousand pounds—a mere trifle, but sufficient for my needs, and I shall now proceed to enjoy it. Pardon me for troubling you with my personal affairs. And good-day again.’

That afternoon Racksole went with Felix Babylon first to a firm of solicitors in the City, and then to a stockbroker, in order to carry out the practical details of the purchase of the hotel.

�I mean to settle in England,’ said Racksole, as they were coming back. �It is the only country—’ and he stopped.

�The only country?’

�The only country where you can invest money and spend money with a feeling of security. In the United States there is nothing worth spending money on, nothing to buy. In France or Italy, there is no real security.’

�But surely you are a true American?’ questioned Babylon.

�I am a true American,’ said Racksole, �but my father, who began by being a bedmaker at an Oxford college, and ultimately made ten million dollars out of iron in Pittsburg—my father took the wise precaution of having me educated in England. I had my three years at Oxford, like any son of the upper middle class! It did me good. It has been worth more to me than many successful speculations.