Rocco was well aware that even he could rise no higher than the maitre hotel of the Grand Babylon, which, though it never advertised itself, and didn't belong to a limited company, stood an easy first among the hotels of Europe--first in expensiveness, first in exclusiveness, first in that mysterious quality known as 'style'.
Situated on the Embankment, the Grand Babylon, despite its noble proportions, was somewhat dwarfed by several colossal neighbours.

It had but three hundred and fifty rooms, whereas there are two hotels within a quarter of a mile with six hundred and four hundred rooms respectively.
On the other hand, the Grand Babylon was the only hotel in London with a genuine separate entrance for Royal visitors constantly in use.

The Grand Babylon counted that day wasted on which it did not entertain, at the lowest, a German prince or the Maharajah of some Indian State.
When Felix Babylon--after whom, and not with any reference to London's nickname, the hotel was christened--when Felix Babylon founded the hotel in 1869 he had set himself to cater for Royalty, and that was the secret of his triumphant eminence.
The son of a rich Swiss hotel proprietor and financier, he had contrived to established a connection with the officials of several European Courts, and he had not spared money in that respect.

Sundry kings and not a few princesses called him Felix, and spoke familiarly of the hotel as 'Felix's'; and Felix had found that this was very good for trade.
The Grand Babylon was managed accordingly.

The 'note' of its policy was discretion, always discretion, and quietude, simplicity, remoteness.