He had any number of servants. Of course he became
practically a millionaire after the death of his father, as you
will remember; and given more congenial company, I must confess
that I might have spent a most enjoyable evening there.
"Adderley insisted upon priming me with champagne, and after a
while I may as well admit that I lost something of my former
reserve, and began in a fashion to feel that I was having a
fairly good time. By the way, my host was not quite frankly
drunk. He got into that objectionable and dangerous mood which
some of you will recall, and I could see by the light in his eyes
that there was mischief brewing, although at the time I did not
know its nature.
"I should explain that we were amusing ourselves in a room which
was nearly as large as the lounge of this hotel, and furnished in
a somewhat similar manner. There were carved pillars and stained
glass domes, a little fountain, and all those other peculiarities
of an Eastern household.
"Presently, Adderley gave an order to one of his servants, and
glanced at me with that sort of mocking, dare-devil look in his
eyes which I loathed, which everybody loathed who ever met the
man. Of course I had no idea what all this portended, but I was
very shortly to learn.
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