"Very good indeed, so far," said Cornelius, with a palpable smack of his lips.
"Lamb-cutlets with peas--a simple but excellent dish; aspic of _foie gras_--ah, two or three things which I cannot translate; a preparation of pigeon; haunch of venison; yes----"
"An excellent dinner, indeed," said Cornelius. "Pray go on, Humphrey."
He began to feel like Sancho in Barataria. So good a dinner seemed really impossible.
"Duckling; cabob curry of chicken-liver with Bombay ducks--really, Mr. Beck, this dinner is worth a dukedom."
"It is indeed," said Cornelius feelingly.
"Canvas-back--ah!--from Baltimore--Cornelius, this is almost too much; apricots in jelly, ice-pudding, grated Parmesan, strawberries, melons, peaches, nectarines, (and only May, Cornelius!), pines, West India bananas, custard apples from Jamaica, and dried litchis from China, Cornelius."
Humphrey handed the document to his brother with a look of appeal which said volumes. One sentence in the volumes was clearly, "Say something appropriate."
"This new Mæcenas ransacks the corners of the earth to find a fitting entertainment for men of genius. Humphrey, you shall paint him."
By a simultaneous impulse the Twins turned to their patron, and presented each a right hand. Gilead Beck had only one right hand to give. He gave that to Cornelius, and the left to Humphrey.
While this sacrament of friendship was proceeding was heard a sound as of many men simultaneously stifling much laughter. The door opened, and the other guests arrived in a body. They were preceded by Jack Dunquerque, and on entering the room dropped, as if by word of command, into line, like soldiers on parade. Eight of them were strangers, but Captain Ladds brought up the rear.
They were, as might be expected of such great men, a remarkable assemblage. At the extreme right stood a tall well-set-up old man, with tangled grey locks, long grey eye-brows, and an immense grey beard. His vigorous bearing belied the look of age, and what part of his face could be seen had a remarkably youthful appearance.
Next to him were other two aged men, one of whom was bent and bowed by the weight of years. They also had large eyebrows and long grey beards; and Mr. Beck remarked at once that so far as could be judged from the brightness of their eyes they had wonderfully preserved their mental strength. The others were younger men, one of them being apparently a boy of eighteen or so.