Rainsford chose amongst the specimens of food.
Here George Washington brought Fairfax the Sunday morning _Tribune_, and folded it before his gentleman and presented it almost on his knees.
"Let me git ye a teenty weenty bit mo' salid, Kunnell?"
Fairfax unfolded the _Tribune_ leisurely. "Bring some ice-cream, George, and some good cigars, and a little old brandy. Yes, Rainsford, it isn't poison."
Fairfax read attentively, and his companion watched him patiently, his own face lightened by the companionship of the younger man. Fairfax glanced at the headlines of the _Tribune_, said "By George!" under his breath, and bent over the paper. His face underwent a transformation; he grew pale, read fixedly, then laughed, said "By George!" again, folded the paper up and put it in his pocket.
The ice-cream was brought and described as "_Panillapolitan_ cream, sah," and Fairfax lit a cigar and puffed it fast and then said suddenly--
"Do you know what hate is, Rainsford? I reckon you don't. Your face doesn't bear any traces of it."
"Yes, Fairfax," said the other, "I know what it is--it's a disease which means battle, murder, and sudden death."
The young man took the paper out of his pocket and unfolded it, and Rainsford was surprised to see his hands tremble, the beautiful clever hands with the stained finger ends and the clean, beautiful palm. Falutini did more work than Fairfax now. He slaved for his master.
"Read that, Rainsford." He tapped a headline with his forefinger. "It sounds like an event."
THE UNVEILING OF THE ABYDOS SPHINX IN CENTRAL PARK CEDERSHOLM'S WONDERFUL PEDESTAL. THE DIFFICULT TRANSPORTATION OF THE EGYPTIAN MONUMENT FROM THE PORT TO THE PARK. UNVEILING TO TAKE PLACE NEXT SATURDAY.
The article went on to speak of the dignified marble support, and hinted at four prehistoric creatures in bronze which were supposed to be the masterpieces of modern sculpture.
Rainsford read it through. "Very interesting. An event, as you say, Tony. Cedersholm has made himself a great reputation."
"_Damn him!_" breathed the engineer. His heart was beating wildly, he felt a suffocation in his breast. A torrent of feeling swept up in him. No words could say what a storm and a tempest the notice caused.