st who embarks on the subjugation of a waiter is almost always lost;
the waiter has so many advantages in such a contest.

Chapter Two HOW MR RACKSOLE OBTAINED HIS DINNER

NEVERTHELESS, there are men with a confirmed habit of getting their own
way, even as guests in an exclusive hotel: and Theodore Racksole had
long since fallen into that useful practice--except when his only
daughter Helen, motherless but high-spirited girl, chose to think that
his way crossed hers, in which case Theodore capitulated and fell back.
But when Theodore and his daughter happened to be going one and the same
road, which was pretty often, then Heaven alone might help any obstacle
that was so ill-advised as to stand in their path. Jules, great and
observant man though he was, had not noticed the terrible projecting
chins of both father and daughter, otherwise it is possible he would
have reconsidered the question of the steak and Bass.

Theodore Racksole went direct to the entrance-hall of the hotel, and
entered Miss Spencer's sanctum.

'I want to see Mr Babylon,' he said, 'without the delay of an instant.'

Miss Spencer leisurely raised her flaxen head.

'I am afraid--,' she began the usual formula. It was part of her daily
duty to discourage guests who desired to see Mr Babylon.

'No, no,' said Racksole quickly, 'I don't want any "I'm afraids." This
is business. If you had been the ordinary hotel clerk I should have
slipped you a couple of sovereigns into your hand, and the thing would
have been done.

As you are not--as you are obviously above bribes--I merely say to you,
I must see Mr Babylon at once on an affair of the utmost urgency. My
name is Racksole--Theodore Racksole.'

'Of New York?' questioned a voice at the door, with a slight foreign
accent.

The millionaire turned sharply, and saw a rather short, French-looking
man, with a bald head, a grey beard, a long and perfectly-built frock
coat, eye-glasses attached to a minute silver chain, and blue eyes that
seemed to have the transparent innocence of a maid's.

'There is only one,' said Theodore Racksole succinctly.

'You wish to see me?' the new-comer suggested.

'You are Mr Felix Babylon?'

The man bowed.

'At this moment I wish to see you more than anyone else in the world,'
said Racksole. 'I am consumed and burnt up with a desire to see you, Mr
Babylon.

I only want a few minutes' quiet chat. I fancy I can settle my business
in that time.'

With a gest