"The waiter looked at us as if we were lunatics escaped from an asylum, and said, in broken English, 'Messieurs, this is not the time for beefsteaks. Beefsteaks are at twelve o'clock. 'Tis now only half-past eight.'
"'Two beefsteaks, d'ye hear!' again roared the Doctor.
"'Certainlee, if messieurs will have it so,' replied the waiter, somewhat staggered.
"'Beefsteak! Beefsteak!! Beefsteak!!!' was the exclamation which went from one person to another around the room, and all eyes were turned towards us.
"'Look,' said the Doctor, 'how these French fools stare. Confound them! What do they mean?'
"'Pardon me, sare,' remarked the old gentleman at our table, addressing himself to me, 'ess zis your breakfast or your dinnaire?'
"'Don't answer him,' said the Doctor; 'we'll have some sport with these fellows.'
"The beefsteaks were brought, and we attacked them with great effect.
"'It must be ze dinnaire,' muttered our military friend to himself, just loud enough for us to hear.
"'Pardon me, gentlemen,' he again said, addressing himself to me in a louder tone, 'ess zis your breakfast or your dinnaire?'