"Will you dine at the table d'hôte?" he inquired.
"What's the cooking like?" Again Victor pondered for several moments.
"Well," he drawled at last, "some people say it's good and then—some people say it isn't."
Again Laroque roared with laughter.
"Well, you are a mine of information, aren't you?" he shouted. Victor did not acknowledge the compliment.
"Dinner's at seven," he announced solemnly.
"Right!"
"If you want anything, ring once for me and twice for the chambermaid."
"Thank you, my lord!" bowed Laroque.
"Shall I take away the absinthe?" he asked, as the woman slowly put the bottle down when enough of the milky fluid had dripped slowly into, the tumblers. The other quickly put out a restraining hand.