"I am not inclined to sell," Guest said. "One hundred, or two hundred, or five hundred won't tempt me now that my mind is made up."
Kauffman left the restaurant without a word. Guest called the waiter to him.
"Karl," he said, "do you wish to stay here as head-waiter?"
"Certainly, sir," the man answered, a little nervously. "I know most of the customers. But I fear they will not stay."
"We shall see," Guest answered. "I am not in a great hurry to make money. I want them to be satisfied, and I want my nephew to be learning the business. You shall do what you can to keep them, Karl, and it will mean money to you. Now about this club! They spend money these members, eh?"
"Not much," Karl answered dubiously.
"That is bad," Guest declared; "but they must spend more. We will give them good things cheap. What nights do they meet?"
"No one knows," Karl answered. "The room is always ready. They pay a small sum for it, and they come when they choose."
"H'm!" Guest remarked. "Doesn't sound very profitable. What do they do—sing, talk, or is it business?"
"I think," Karl answered slowly, "that it is business."