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"No matter," broke in Rushford. "All European inn-keepers have it, and it has never been known to result fatally, so don't worry. But why did you think I'd take hold of this thing?" "I haf heard so much," explained Pelletan, "of t'e enterprise of t'e Americans, t'at I t'ought perhaps you might " "Win back Zeit-Zeit? Not on your life! If he comes, I go! But I tell you what I'll do, Pelletan.
"That's good; let's have it," said Rushford, encouragingly. "There's nothing like ideas." "Monsieur will remember," began Pelletan, in a voice carefully lowered, "t'at we agreed to touble t'e price of entertainment." "Yes what of it? Anybody been kicking?" "No au contraire, monsieur t'e house iss full efery leetle room." "You see you don't need Zeit-Zeit; it's quite like the old times, isn't it?"
Now mind one thing if Zeit-Zeit comes over here and wants an apartment, you're to shut him out I won't have him in the house not at any price!" Pelletan grew pale at the thought. "Refuse t'e Prince of Zeit-Zeit!" he stammered. "Yes if you let him in, I'll kick him out.
"No," said Rushford, "I've never seen him. But we'll have to treat him well. He's the head of the British foreign office, Pelletan; and one of the high nobility. Beside him, Zeit-Zeit will look like thirty cents!" Distinguished arrivals at Weet-sur-Mer Even at this unaccustomed hour of the morning, the beach was black with people.
Already there had been a score of applicants for rooms; the corridors were again assuming that air of liveliness and gaiety which had characterised them in those golden days when the August Prince of Zeit-Zeit had been his annual guest.
"I don't know his name, but he looks like a freak from the wax-works. He's got to go he's nearly as bad as Zeit-Zeit." Pelletan mopped his shining forehead and groaned dismally. "What is it, man?" demanded the American. "Don't tell me that this rascal has a hold on you!" Pelletan groaned again, more dismally than before.
"Eet iss t'is way, monsieur," explained the Frenchman, eagerly. "For many year, long pefore t'is new part off t'e house wass puilt, we enjoyed t'e confidence unt patronage of Hiss Highness, t'e Prince of Zeit-Zeit, who spent at least two month in efery season here.
Why, hello, Pelletan," he added, as the latter approached him humbly, as a slave approaches the Sultan. "Want to speak to me?" "Eef monsieur please," answered the little Frenchman, who was plainly labouring under deep excitement. "All right; what is it?" "Wass monsieur serious in hees command t'at I exclude t'e Prince of Zeit-Zeit?" "Never more serious in my life. He's barred!
"Is Zeit-Zeit the little purblind, monkey-faced fellow who is wheeled around in a big red chair every day?" "T'e fery same, monsieur a great Highness." Rushford made a grimace of disgust. "What's the matter with him?" he asked. "Does he only need a bath, or is it more than skin deep?" "Eet iss an hereditary trait, monsieur." "Hereditary taint, you mean!
He was aware that the envious eyes of the proprietor of the Grand Hôtel Splendide were upon him; he would show him that here was a guest more majestic, more worthy of honour than even the Prince of Zeit-Zeit! a Highness, in short, so extraordinary as to cause that August personage to resemble, in some incomprehensible way, the sum of one franc fifty centimes!
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