swered Henri of Navarre;
'forty-two cents for the order and three dollars to help pay for
the French velvet curtains in the golden suite on the second floor.'

"'Keep on guessing, John; you'll wear him out,' Peaches whispered.

"'Possibly a little cold lamb with a suggestion of potato salad on
the side might satisfy us,' I said; 'make me an estimate.'

"'Four dollars and eighteen cents,' replied Patsey Boulanger;
'eighteen cents for the lamb and salad and the four dollars for the
Looey the Fifteenth graperies in the drawing-room.'

"'Ask him if there's a bargain counter anywhere in the
dining-room,' whispered Peaches.

"'My dear,' I said to Clara J., 'we have already displaced about
sixty dollars' worth of space in this dyspepsia emporium, and we
must, therefore, behave like gentlemen and order something, no
matter what the cost. What are the savings of a life-time compared
with our honor!'

"The waiter bowed so low that his shoulder blades cracked like a
whip.

"'Bring us,' I said, 'a plain omelet and one dish of prunes.'

[Illustration: "Bring us a plain omelet and one dish of prunes."]

"I waited till Peter Girofla translated this into French and then I
added, 'And on the side, please, two glasses of water and three
toothpicks. Have the prunes fricasseed, wash the water on both
corners, and bring the toothpicks rare.'

"The waiter rushed away and all around us we could hear money
talking to itself.

"Fair women sat at the tables picking dishes out of the bill of
fare which brought the blush of sorrow to the faces of their
escorts. It was a wonderful sight, especially for those who have a
nervous chill every time the gas bill comes in.

"When we ate our modest little dinner the waiter presented a check
which called for three dollars and thirty-three cents.

"'The thirty-three cents is for what you ordered,' Alexander J.
Dumas explained, 'and the three dollars is for the French hangings
in the parlor.'

"'Holy Smoke!' I cried; 'that fellow Looey the Fifteenth has been
doing a lot of work around here hasn't he?' but the waiter was so
busy watching the finish of the change he handed me that he didn't
crack a smile.

"Then I got reckless and handed him a fifty-cent tip.

"The waiter looked at the fifty cents and turned pale.

"Then he looked at me and turned paler.

"Then he tried to thank me, but he caught another flash of that
plebeian fifty and it choked him.

"Then he took a long look at