按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
a new phase to herand she thought it unique in dreadfulness and absurdity。
The general had had a home life in his youthin a coal…miner's cabin near Wilkes…Barre。 Ever since； he had lived in boarding…houses or hotels。 As his shrewd and rapacious mind had gathered in more and more wealth； he had lived more and more luxuriouslybut always at hotels。 He had seen little of the private life of the rich。 Thus he had been compelled to get his ideas of luxury and of ceremonial altogether from the hotel…keepers and caterers who give the rich what the more intelligent and informed of the rich are usually shamed by people of taste from giving themselves at home。
She thought the tablecloth； napkins； and gaudy gold and flowery cut glass a little overdone； but on the whole not so bad。 She had seen such almost as grand at a few New York houses。 The lace in the cloth and in the napkins was merely a little too magnificent。 It made the table lumpy； it made the napkins unfit for use。 But the way the dinner was served！ You would have said you were in a glorified palace…hotel restaurant。 You looked about for the cashier's desk； you were certain a bill would be presented after the last course。
The general； tinier and more grotesque than ever in the great high…backed； richly carved armchair； surveyed the progress of the banquet with the air of a god performing miracles of creation and passing them in review and giving them his divine endorsement。 He was well pleased with the enthusiastic praises Presbury and his wife lavished upon the food and drink。 He would have been better pleased had they preceded and followed every mouthful with a eulogy。 He supplemented their compliments with even more fulsome compliments； adding details as to the origin and the cost。
‘‘Darcy''this to the butler‘‘tell the chef that this fish is the best yetreally exquisite。'' To Presbury： ‘‘I had it brought over from Francealive； of course。 We have many excellent fish； but I like a change now and then。 So I have a standing order with Prunierhe's the big oyster… and fish…man of Paris to send me over some things every two weeks by special express。 That way； an oyster costs about fifty cents and a fish about five or six dollars。''
To Mrs。 Presbury： ‘‘I'll have Darcy make you and Miss Presburyexcuse me； Miss Gowerbouquets of the flowers afterward。 Most of them come from New Yorkand very high really first…class flowers are。 I pay two dollars apiece for my roses even at this season。 And orchidswell； I feel really extravagant when I indulge in orchids as I have this evening。 Ten dollars apiece for those。 But they're worth it。''
The dinner was interminably longupward of twenty kinds of food； no less than five kinds of wine； enough served and spoiled to have fed and intoxicated a dozen people at least。 And upon every item of food and drink the general had some remarks to make。 He impressed it upon his guests that this dinner was very little better than the one served to him every night； that the increase in expense and luxury was not in their honor； but in his ownto show them what he could do when he wished to make a holiday。 Finally the grand course was reached。 Into the dining…room； to the amazement of the guests； were rolled two great restaurant joint wagons。 Instead of being made of silver…plated nickel or plain nickel they were of silver embossed with gold； and the large carvers and serving… spoons and forks had gold…mounted silver handles。 When the lackeys turned back the covers there were disclosed several truly wonderful young turkeys； fattened as if by painstaking and skillful hand and superbly browned。
Up to that time the rich and costly food had been sadly mediumlike the wines。 But these turkeys were a genuine triumph。 Even Mildred gave them a look of interest and admiration。 In a voice that made General Siddall ecstatic Presbury cried：
‘‘GOD bless my soul！ WHERE did you get those beauties； old man！''
‘‘Paris；'' said Siddall in a voice tremulous with pride and self…admiration。 You would have thought that he had created not merely the turkeys； but Paris； also。 ‘‘Potin sends them over to me。 Potin； you know； is the finest dealer in groceries； fruit； game； and so on in the world。 I have a standing order with him for the best of everything that comes in。 I'd hate to tell you what my bill with Potin is every monthhe only sends it to me once a year。 Really； I think I ought to be ashamed of myself； but I reason that； if a man can afford it； he's a fool to put anything but the best into his stomach。''
‘‘You're right there！'' mumbled Presbury。 His mouth was full of turkey。 ‘‘You HAVE got a chef； General！''
‘‘He ought to cook well。 I pay him more than most bank…presidents get。 What do you think of those joint wagons； Mrs。 Presbury？''
‘‘They're veryinteresting；'' replied she； a little nervous because she suspected they were some sort of vulgar joke。
‘‘I knew you'd like them；'' said the general。 ‘‘My own idea entirely。 I saw them in several restaurants abroadonly of course those they had were just ordinary affairs； not fit to be introduced into a gentleman's dining…room。 But I took the idea and adapted it to my purposesand there you are！''
‘‘Very original； old man；'' said Presbury； who had been drinking too much。 ‘‘I've never seen it before； and I don't think I ever shall again。 Got the idea patented？''
But Siddall in his soberest moment would have been slow to admit a suspicion that any of the human race； which he regarded as on its knees before him； was venturing to poke fun at him。 Drunk as he now was； the openest sarcasm would have been accepted as a compliment。 After a gorgeous dessert which nobody more than toucheda molded mousse of whipped and frozen cream and strawberries‘‘specially sent on to me from Florida and costing me a dollar apiece； I guess''after this costly wonder had disappeared fruit was served。 General Siddall had ready a long oration upon this course。 He delivered it in a disgustingly thick tone。 The pineapple was an English hothouse product； the grapes were grown by a costly process under glass in Belgium。 As for the peaches； Potin had sent those deli… cately blushing marvels； and the charge for this would be ‘‘not less than a louis apiece； sira louis d'or which； as you no doubt know； is about four dollars of Uncle Sam's money。''
The coffee‘‘the Queen of Holland may have it on her PRIVATE tableMAY； I saybut I doubt if anyone else in the world gets a smell of it except me'' the coffee and the brandy came not a moment too soon。 Presbury was becoming stupefied with indigestion； his wife was nodding and was wearing that vague； forced； pleasant smile which stands propriety…guard over a mind asleep； Mildred Gower felt that her nerves would endure no more； and the general was falling into a besotted state； spilling his wine； mumbling his words。 The coffee and the brandy revived them all somewhat。 Mildred； lifting her eyes； saw by way of a mirrored section of the enormous sideboard the English butler surveying master and guests with slowly moving； sneering glance of ineffable contempt。
In the drawing…room again Mildred； requested by Siddall and ordered by Presbury； sang a little Fr