"It is arranged for me," Sir Timothy replied. "I have an agent
who sees to it all. Every man or woman who is asked to perform,
has a credit at Cartier's for a hundred guineas. I pay no fees.
They select some little keepsake."
Margaret laughed softly.
"No wonder they call this place a sort of Arabian Nights!" she
declared.
"Well, there isn't much else for you to see," Sir Timothy said
thoughtfully. "My gymnasium, which is one of the principal
features here, is closed just now for a special performance, of
which I will speak in a moment. The concert hall I see they are
using for an overflow dance-room. What you have seen, with the
grounds and the winter-garden, comprises almost everything."
They moved back through the hall with difficulty. People were
now crowding in. Lady Cynthia laughed softly.
"Why, it is like a gala night at the Opera, Sir Timothy!" she
exclaimed. "How dare you pretend that this is Bohemia!"
"It has never been I who have described my entertainments," he
reminded her. "They have been called everything--orgies,
debauches--everything you can think of. I have never ventured
myself to describe them."
Their passage was difficult. Every now and then Sir Timothy was
compelled to shake hands with some of his newly-arriving guests.
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