"But I repeat to you, my dear friend, that only an hour ago I refused the choicest things."
"So much the better, my lord, I could not present myself to you at a more favourable juncture; my triumph will be great."
"Listen, my dear friend, I cannot tell you if it is the influence of your name, or the learned and exalted manner with which you speak of your art, which gives me confidence in you, in spite of myself; but I experience, I will not say, a desire to eat, because I would challenge you to make me swallow the wing of an ortolan; but indeed I experience, in hearing you reason upon cooking, a pleasure which makes me hope that perhaps, later, if appetite returns to me, I—"
"My lord, pardon me if I interrupt you; you have a kitchen here?"
"Certainly, with every appointment. A fire has just been kindled there to keep warm what was brought already prepared from Chevet, but, alas! utterly useless."
"Will you give me, sir, a half-hour?"
"What to do?"
"To prepare a breakfast for you, sir."
"With what?"
"I have brought all that is necessary."