More Impending Apologies.
I.
“GREAT GALA NIGHT
when
JOSEPHINE DAVIS
will bid ‘Au Revoir’ to Bombay
By Special Request.”Bombay Chronicle.
II.
“At the hour of six the Rev. S. F. Collier gave out the only possible hymn—
‘And are we yet alive
And see each other’s face!’”Yorkshire Post.
THE GESTICULATORS.
The supper-room was so full that I quite expected to find that, since I was so late, the harassed head-waiter had taken the liberty of presuming my death and letting someone else have my table; but there it was, empty and ready for me. I sank into a chair with a feeling of relief and, having ordered something to eat, began to examine the room. There was not a spare place; everyone was eating and talking and unusual excitement was in the air. From my remote corner I could not catch any words, but the odd thing was that at every table one at least of the men, who were all in evening-dress, was waving his arms. Now and then a man would stand up to do this better. It was as though they were all deaf and dumb, or cinema actors.
The next day at lunch I had a similar experience. I patronized another restaurant, which seemed to be equally popular, and again every man was gesticulating in a style totally foreign to the staid apathetic Londoner. What could it mean? What was the reason?
I asked the waiter. He laughed. “Ah,” he said, “I have notice it too. It is funny, is it not? Zey all show each other how Carpentier won on ze foul.”