Dumas’ familiarity with the good things of the table is nowhere more strongly advanced than in the opening chapter of “The Queen’s Necklace,” wherein the author recounts the incident of “the nobleman and his maître d’hôtel.”
The scene was laid in 1784, and runs as follows:
“The marshal turned toward his maître d’hôtel, and said, ‘Sir, I suppose you have prepared me a good dinner?’
“‘You have the list of my guests?’
“‘I remember them perfectly.’
“‘There are two sorts of dinners, sir,’ said the marshal.
“‘True, your Grace, but—’
“‘In the first place, at what time do we dine?’
“‘Your Grace, the citizens dine at two, the bar at three, the nobility at four—’