‘Never,’ said Racksole.
‘Then you have missed your vocation. You could have been the greatest of all hotel-managers. You would have been greater than me, and I am unequalled, though I keep only one hotel, and some men have half a dozen. Mr Racksole, why have you never run an hotel?’
‘Heaven knows,’ he laughed, ‘but you flatter me, Mr Babylon.’
‘I? Flatter? You do not know me. I flatter no one, except, perhaps, now and then an exceptionally distinguished guest. In which case I give suitable instructions as to the bill.’
‘Speaking of distinguished guests, I am told that a couple of German princes are coming here to-morrow.’
‘That is so.’
‘Does one do anything? Does one receive them formally—stand bowing in the entrance-hall, or anything of that sort?’
‘Not necessarily. Not unless one wishes. The modern hotel proprietor is not like an innkeeper of the Middle Ages, and even princes do not expect to see him unless something should happen to go wrong. As a matter of fact, though the Grand Duke of Posen and Prince Aribert have both honoured me by staying here before, I have never even set eyes on them. You will find all arrangements have been made.’
They talked a little longer, and then Racksole said good night. ‘Let me see you to your room. The lifts will be closed and the place will be deserted.
As for myself, I sleep here,’ and Mr Babylon pointed to an inner door.