"'In breeches and gaiters, broad-brimmed hat, grey coat, speckled choker,' said the waiter.
"'No,' I said bashfully, 'I hav'n't the pleasure—'
"'He came here,' said the waiter, looking at the light through the tumbler, 'ordered a glass of this ale, would order it, I told him not—drank it, and fell dead. It was too old for him. It oughtn't to be drawn, that's the fact.'
"I was very much shocked to hear of this melancholy accident, and said I thought I had better have some water. 'Why, you see,' said the waiter, looking at the light through the tumbler with one of his eyes shut, 'our people don't like things being ordered and left. It offends them. But I'll drink it, if you like. I'm used to it, and use is everything. I don't think it will hurt me if I throw my head back and take it off quick; shall I?'
"I replied that he would much oblige me by drinking it, if he thought he could do it safely, but by no means otherwise. When he did throw his head back and take it off quick, I had a horrible fear, I confess, of seeing him meet the fate of the lamented Topsawyer, and fall lifeless on the carpet. But it did not hurt him. On the contrary. I thought he seemed the fresher for it. 'What have we got here?' he said, putting a fork into my dish. 'Not chops?'
"'Chops.' I said.
"'Lord bless my soul,' he exclaimed, 'I didn't know they were chops. Why, a chop's the very thing to take off the bad effect of that beer. Ain't it lucky?'
"So he took a chop by the bone in one hand and a potato in the other, and ate away with a very good appetite to my extreme satisfaction. He afterwards took another chop and another potato, and after that another chop and another potato. When we had done he brought me a pudding, and having set it before me seemed to ruminate, and to be absent in his mind for some moments.
"'How's the pie?' he said, rousing himself.
"'It's a pudding,' I made answer.