He held up his hand.
"Wait. It is an experiment. You must give it a fair chance. Come, let us be merry."
"Let us eat, drink and be merry," I murmured.
I watched the flushed faces and sparkling eyes around us. So far we had attracted no attention. Our table was in a corner, behind a pillar. The waiter hurried up with a laden tray, and in a moment the table was covered with bottles and plates.
"Now," said Sarakoff, "we will begin with a glass of brandy. Let us try to recall the days of our youth—a little imagination, Harden, and then perhaps the spell will be broken. A toast—Leonora!"
"Leonora," I echoed.
We raised our glasses. I took a sip and set down my glass. Our eyes met.
"Is the brandy good?"
"It is of an admirable quality," said Sarakoff. He put his glass on the table and for some time we sat in silence.