o that I have a private income of ten thousand pounds a year, and a
chateau and a town house in Posen. I tell you this because I am here
to ask the hand of your daughter in marriage. I love her, and I am vain
enough to believe that she loves me. I have already asked her to be my
wife, and she has consented. We await your approval.'

'You honour us, Prince,' said Racksole with a slight smile, 'and in
more ways than one, May I ask your reason for renouncing your princely
titles?'

'Simply because the idea of a morganatic marriage would be as repugnant
to me as it would be to yourself and to Nella.'

'That is good.' The Prince laughed. 'I suppose it has occurred to you
that ten thousand pounds per annum, for a man in your position, is a
somewhat small income. Nella is frightfully extravagant. I have known
her to spend sixty thousand dollars in a single year, and have nothing
to show for it at the end. Why! she would ruin you in twelve months.'

'Nella must reform her ways,' Aribert said.

'If she is content to do so,' Racksole went on, 'well and good! I
consent.'

'In her name and my own, I thank you,' said Aribert gravely.

'And,' the millionaire continued, 'so that she may not have to reform
too fiercely, I shall settle on her absolutely, with reversion to your
children, if you have any, a lump sum of fifty million dollars, that is
to say, ten million pounds, in sound, selected railway stock. I reckon
that is about half my fortune. Nella and I have always shared equally.'

Aribert made no reply. The two men shook hands in silence, and then it
happened that Nella entered the room.

That night, after dinner, Racksole and his friend Felix Babylon were
walking together on the terrace of the Grand Babylon Hotel.

Felix had begun the conversation.

'I suppose, Racksole,' he had said, 'you aren't getting tired of the
Grand Babylon?'

'Why do you ask?'

'Because I am getting tired of doing without it. A thousand times since
I sold it to you I have wished I could undo the bargain. I can't bear
idleness. Will you sell?'

'I might,' said Racksole, 'I might be induced to sell.'

'What will you take, my friend?' asked Felix

'What I gave,' was the quick answer.

'Eh!' Felix exclaimed. 'I sell you my hotel with Jules, with Rocco, with
Miss Spencer. You go and lose all those three inestimable servants,
and then offer me the hotel without them at the same price! It
is monstrous.' The little man laughed heartily at h