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Arnold Bennett. Отель «Гранд Вавилон» / The Grand Babylon hotel
Chapter One. The millionaire and the waiter
Chapter Two. How mr Racksole obtained his dinner
Chapter Three. At three a.m
Chapter Four. Entrance of the prince
Chapter Five. What occurred to Reginald Dimmock
Chapter Six. In the Gold Room
Chapter Seven. Nella and the prince
Chapter Eight. Arrival and departure of the baroness
Chapter Nine. Two women and the revolver
Chapter Ten. At sea
Chapter Eleven. The court pawnbroker
Chapter Twelve. Rocco and room № 111
Chapter Thirteen. In the state bedroom
Chapter Fourteen. Rocco answers some questions
Chapter Fifteen. End of the yacht adventure
Chapter Sixteen. The woman with the red hat
Chapter Seventeen. The release of prince Eugen
Chapter Eighteen. In the night-time
Chapter Nineteen. Royalty at the Grand Babylon
Chapter Twenty. Mr Sampson Levi bids prince Eugen good morning
Chapter Twenty-One. The return of Felix Babylon
Chapter Twenty-Two. In the wine cellars of the Grand Babylon
Chapter Twenty-Three. Further events in the cellar
Chapter Twenty-Four. The bottle of wine
Chapter Twenty-Five. The steam launch
Chapter Twenty-Six. The night chase and the mudlark
Chapter Twenty-Seven. The confession of mr Tom Jackson
Chapter Twenty-Eight. The state bedroom once more
Chapter Twenty-Nine. Theodore is called to the rescue
Chapter Thirty. Conclusion
Отрывок из книги
‘YES, sir?’
Jules, the celebrated head waiter of the Grand Babylon, was bending formally towards the alert, middle-aged man who had just entered the smoking-room and dropped into a basket-chair in the corner by the conservatory. It was 7.45 on a particularly sultry June night, and dinner was about to be served at the Grand Babylon. Men of all sizes, ages, and nationalities, but every one alike arrayed in faultless evening dress, were dotted about the large, dim apartment. A faint odour of flowers came from the conservatory, and the tinkle of a fountain. The waiters, commanded by Jules, moved softly across the thick Oriental rugs, balancing their trays with the dexterity of jugglers, and receiving and executing orders with that air of profound importance of which only really first-class waiters have the secret. The atmosphere was an atmosphere of serenity and repose, characteristic of the Grand Babylon. It seemed impossible that anything could occur to mar the peaceful, aristocratic monotony of existence in that perfectly-managed establishment. Yet on that night was to happen the mightiest upheaval that the Grand Babylon had ever known.
.....
There was a gentle cough. Jules stood over them. It must have been out of a pure spirit of adventure that he had selected this table for his own services. Usually Jules did not personally wait at dinner. He merely hovered observant, like a captain on the bridge during the mate’s watch. Regular frequenters of the hotel felt themselves honoured when Jules attached himself to their tables.
Theodore Racksole hesitated one second, and then issued the order with a fine air of carelessness:
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