The asparagus and the strawberries were excellent, and over the latter, served in a silver dish over a silver bowl of ice, Miss Morgan for the first time became enthusiastic. The coffee, too, and the liqueurs were good.
I paid the bill—two dinners, £1: 5s.; one bottle 131, 6s.; café, 1s.; liqueurs, 2s.—total, £1: 14s.; and in explanation of the lack of detail, told Miss Morgan that in the old days of the Amphitryon we who were not over-wealthy used, when we gave a dinner, to go to Emile and ask him to do the best he could for us at 12s. 6d. a head. But though I told her this I was perfectly aware that I had been treated too kindly by the management, and that the bill should have been of larger proportions.
I put Miss Morgan into a cab, amid thanks on her part and many messages to our common friend on mine.
I shall be interested to read the Amphitryon chapter in "The Education of an Angel," by "George Swanston Clarke."
26th April.
[CHAPTER XIV]
LE RESTAURANT DES GOURMETS (LISLE STREET)
The superior person and I were chatting in the club as to eating generally, and he was holding forth on the impossibility of discovering any dining place, as Kettner's was discovered by our fathers, where a good meal could be had at a very small price.