'What do you give Rocco?' Racksole inquired.

'Two thousand a year and the treatment of an Ambassador.'

'I shall give him the treatment of an Ambassador and three
thousand.'

'You will be wise,' said Felix Babylon.

At that moment Rocco came into the room, very softly - a man of
forty, thin, with long, thin hands, and an inordinately long brown
silky moustache.

'Rocco,' said Felix Babylon, 'let me introduce Mr Theodore
Racksole, of New York.'

'Sharmed,' said Rocco, bowing. 'Ze - ze, vat you call it,
millionaire?'

'Exactly,' Racksole put in, and continued quickly: 'Mr Rocco, I
wish to acquaint you before any other person with the fact that I
have purchased the Grand Babylon Hotel. If you think well to
afford me the privilege of retaining your services I shall be happy
to offer you a remuneration of three thousand a year.'

'Tree, you said?'

'Three.'

'Sharmed.'