Amid the display of the table arose a pate like a cathedral; on one side was a quarter of cold veal, artichokes, etc., were also on the eastern range.
There were various kinds of fruits, napkins, knives and plate; at the foot of the table were many attentive servants.
At one corner of the refrectory was seen more than an hundred bottles, kept cool by a natural fountain. We could snuff the aroma of mocha, though in those venerable days none ever drank mocha so early in the morning.
The reverend cellarer for a time laughed at our emotion, and then spoke to us as follows:
"Gentlemen," said he, "I would be pleased to keep you company, but as yet I have not kept my mass. I ought to ask you to drink, but the mountain air dispenses the necessity. Receive, then, what we offer you. I must to matins."
He went to matins.
We did our best to eat up the abbe's dinner, but could not. People from Sirius might, but it was too much for us.
After dinner we dispersed. I crept into a good bed until mass; like the heroes of Rocroy, who slept until the battle began.
I was aroused by a great fat friar, who had nearly pulled my arm out of its socket, and went to the church where I found all at their posts.
We played a symphony at the offertory and sung a motet at the elevation, concluding with four wind instruments.