The Sins of Séverac Bablon

The Sins of Séverac Bablon, by
Sax Rohmer

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Title: The Sins of Séverac Bablon
Author: Sax Rohmer
Release Date: June 20, 2007 [EBook #21879]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
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THE SINS OF SÉVERAC BABLON
By Sax Rohmer

CASSELL AND COMPANY, LTD London, New York, Toronto &
Melbourne
First published January 1914. Popular Edition February 1919.

CONTENTS
1. TO INTRODUCE MR. JULIUS ROHSCHEIMER
2. "THIRTY MEN WHO WERE ALL ALIKE"
3. MIDNIGHT--AND THE MAN
4. THE HEAD OF CÆSAR
5. A MYSTIC HAND
6. THE SHADOW OF SÉVERAC BABLON
7. THE RING
8. IN THE DRESSING-ROOM
9. ES-SINDIBAD OF CADOGAN GARDENS
10. KIMBERLEY
11. MR. SANRACK VISITS THE HOTEL ASTORIA
12. LOVE, LUCRE AND MR. ALDEN
13. THE LISTENER
14. ZOE DREAMS
15. AT "THE CEDARS"

16. THE LAMP AND THE MASK
17. THE DAMASCUS CURTAIN
18. A WHITE ORCHID
19. THREE LETTERS
20. CLOSED DOORS
21. A CORNER IN MILLIONAIRES
22. THE TURKISH YATAGHAN
23. M. LEVI
24. "V-E-N-G-E-N-C-E"
25. AN OFFICIAL CALL
26. GRIMSDYKE
27. YELLOW CIGARETTES
28. AT THE PALACE--AND LATER
CHAPTER I
TO INTRODUCE MR. JULIUS ROHSCHEIMER
"There's half a score of your ancestral halls," said Julius Rohscheimer,
"that I could sell up to-morrow morning!"
Of the quartet that heard his words no two members seemed quite
similarly impressed.
The pale face of Adeler, the great financier's confidential secretary,
expressed no emotion whatever. Sir Richard Haredale flashed contempt
from his grey eyes--only to veil his scorn of the man's vulgarity beneath

a cloud of tobacco smoke. Tom Sheard, of the Gleaner, drew down a
corner of his mouth and felt ashamed of the acquaintance. Denby, the
music-hall comedian, softly whistled those bars of a popular ballad set
to the words, "I stood in old Jerusalem."
"Come along to Park Lane with me," continued Rohscheimer, fixing
his dull, prominent eyes upon Sheard, "and you'll see more English
nobility than you'd find inside the House of Lords!"
"What's made him break out?" the comedian whispered, aside, to
Adeler. For it was an open secret that this man, whose financial
operations shook the thrones of monarchy, whose social fêtes were
attended by the smartest people, was subject to outbursts of the kind
which now saw him seated before a rapidly emptying magnum in a
corner of the great restaurant. At such times he would frequent the
promenades of music-halls, consorting with whom he found there, and
would display the gross vulgarity of a Whitechapel pawnbroker or
tenth-rate variety agent.
"'S-sh!" replied the secretary. "A big coup! It is always so with him. Mr.
Rohscheimer is overwrought. I shall induce him to take a holiday."
"Trip up the Jordan?" suggested Denby, with cheery rudeness.
The secretary's drooping eyelids flickered significantly, but no other
indication of resentment displayed itself upon that impassive face.
"A good Jew is proud of his race--and with reason!" he said quietly.
"There are Jews and Jews."
He turned, deferentially, to his employer--that great man having
solicited his attention with the words, "Hark to him, Adeler!"
"I did not quite catch Mr. Sheard's remark," said Adeler.
"I merely invited Mr. Rohscheimer to observe the scene upon his
right," explained Sheard.

The others turned their eyes in that direction. Through a screen of palm
leaves the rose-shaded table lights, sparkling silver, and snowy covers
of the supper room were visible. Here a high-light gleamed upon a bare
shoulder; there, a stalwart male back showed, blocked out in bold black
upon the bright canvas. Waiters flitted noiselessly about. The drone of
that vocal orchestra filled the place: the masculine conversation, the
brass and wood-wind--the sweeter tones of women, the violins; their
laughter, tremolo passages.
"I'm observing it," growled Rohscheimer. "Nobody in particular there."
"There is comfort, luxury, there," said Sheard.
The financier stared, uncomprehensively.
"Now look out yonder," continued the other.
It was a different prospect whereto he directed their eyes.
The diminuendo of the Embankment lamps, the steely glitter of the
waters beyond, the looming bulk of the bridge, the silhouette shape of
the On monolith; these things lay below them, dimly to be seen from
the brilliant room. Within was warmth, light, and gladness; without, a
cold place of shadows, limned in the grey of discontent and the black of
want and desolation.
"Every seat there," continued Sheard, as the company gazed vaguely