“You are not perhaps aware,” said Mr. B——, “that I am a teacher of languages.”
Nor were we—as I, for one, had put him down as an equestrian or circus master; however, we had fortunately not allowed the secret cogitations to escape our lips, so no harm was done. Mr. B——, on our separating that evening, promised to be “at our service” early next morning, and sure enough Dick came to an early breakfast, and had not, as we inferred, had very much sleep.
“The early bird gets the worm,” said Mr. B——, as he helped himself to some wurst, or smoked sausage, by way of a patronising start.
“Make yourselves at home, gentlemen. Do you like raw ham and black bread?” “I do,” he added; “have found out a thing or two since I left the great city,” meaning London.
Mr. S—— who had delicate digestive organs, and who had not travelled much, failed in doing that justice to his first German breakfast, which Mr. B—— tackled with such gusto. He, however, partook of his coffee with a quiet nod of approval, and was in the act of finishing his first cup when the teacher of languages, looking S—— straight in the face, said, “I suppose you had a smother of frogs at Callow’s Hotel in Brussels;” but, perceiving that Mr. S—— turned pale, he exclaimed, “My good fellow, what’s the matter?”
Poor S—— then ejected, almost in Mr. B——’s face, the black contents of his white cup; he sprang up in a nervous, bewildered state, when I had to do the amiable by way of apology.
Mr. Dick laughed, but stuck to his guns, and recommended eggs, when Mr. Abraham Küpper’s voice was heard approaching, who entered smiling, and was followed by a waiter with beefsteaks well broiled, but small; there were three of them, by the way.
Mr. B—— rose to salute either the steaks or mine host, and rubbed his hands with great glee.
“Eh, vat Mein Herren?” asked Herr Küpper, looking to B—— for a response, as to Mr. S——’s sad appearance.
Dick, in German, assured the landlord that he had saved the life of Mr. S—— who would positively starve unless he had something of that kind to begin the day with.