he had entered. The large, low room into which he made his way was
filled with the smoke from many pipes, and redolent with the fumes of
wine. A cheerful wood fire was blazing on the hearth, lighting up the
array of bottles in the bar, which was placed near it, where the master
of the establishment sat enthroned, keeping a watchful eye on the noisy
crowd gathered round the many small tables with which the room abounded,
drinking, smoking, playing at various games, and singing ribald songs.
Lampourde paid no attention to the uproarious throng, further than to
look about and make sure that none of his own particular friends and
associates were among them. He found an unoccupied table, to which a
servant quickly brought a bottle of fine old Canary wine, very choice
and rare, which was reserved for a few privileged and appreciative
customers, who could afford to indulge in such luxuries. Although he was
quite by himself, two glasses were placed before him, as his dislike of
drinking alone was well known, and at any moment a comrade might come
in and join him. Meantime he slowly filled his glass, raised it to the
level of his eyes, and looked long and lovingly through the beautiful,
clear topaz of the generous wine. Having thus satisfied the sense
of sight, he passed to that of smell, and held the glass under his
nostrils, where he could enjoy the delicious aroma arising from it,
giving the wine a rotary motion as he did so, in a very artistic manner;
then, putting the glass to his lips, he let a few drops trickle slowly
down over his tongue to his palate, lengthening out the enjoyment as
much as possible, and approving smack of relish as he at last swallowed
the smooth nectar. Thus Maitre Jacquemin Lampourde managed to gratify
three of the five senses man is blessed with by means of a single glass
of wine. He pretended that the other two might also have a share of the
enjoyment--that of touch by the highly polished surface and swelling
curves of the wine-glass, and that of hearing by the merry ringing when
two glasses are clinked together, or by the musical sounds to be brought
forth from a glass by drawing the moistened finger round and round the
edge of it. But these are fantastic and paradoxical ideas, which only
serve to show the vicious refinement of this fastidious ruffian. He
had been but a few minutes alone when an odd-looking, shabbily dressed
individual came in, who rejoiced in a remarkably pale face, which looked