Nothing further of moment occurred before dinner. Tony and I went out
and admired the wonderful view in the dim half-light, and just as the
midges got the better of us--even my foul old pipe did not give us the
victory--the gong sounded for dinner and covered our retreat.
It was the maddest dinner in which I have ever participated. Three
tables were laid in the little coffee-room, and, as Tony and I were the
first to put in an appearance, I had the curiosity to look at the bill
of fare at the first table I came to.
"This way, sir, if you please," said the chilling voice of our
exemplary waitress.
Already I had deciphered "beef-tea" and "steamed sole" on the card, and
concluded that the table was reserved for the duodenal ulcer. At the
table to which we were conducted I found "mulligatawny soup" figuring
on the menu, and I wondered.
The old lady and gentleman were ushered to their seats by the boots,
now smartly dressed in striped trousers and black coat and waistcoat. I
say "smartly," because the clothes were of good material, and the
wearer looked easily the best-clad man in the hotel.
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