either full or empty.

Art. 5.--On rising from table, he should cast a scrutinizing glance over
the glasses. If he sees them not quite emptied, let him take warning by
it to choose either his guests or his wine better for the future.

_Of the Guests._

Art. 1.--The first duty of a guest is to arrive at the time named, at
whatever inconvenience to himself.

Art. 2.--When the Amphitryon offers any dish to a guest, his only civil
way of declining it is by requesting to be helped a second time to that
of which he has just partaken.

Art. 3.--A guest who is a man of the world will never begin a
conversation until the first course is over; up to that point, dinner is
a serious affair, from which the attention of the party ought not to be
inconsiderately distracted.

Art. 4.--Whatever conversation is going on ought to be suspended, even
in the middle of a sentence, upon the entrance of a _dinde aux truffes_.

Art. 5.--An applauding laugh is indispensable to every joke of the
Amphitryon.

Art. 6.--A guest is culpable who speaks ill of his entertainer during
the first three hours after dinner. Gratitude should last at least as
long as digestion.

Art. 7.--To leave anything on your plate is to insult your host in the
person of his cook.

Art. 8.--A guest who leaves the table deserves the fate of a soldier who
deserts.

_On Vicinity to Ladies._

Art. 1.--He who sits next to a lady becomes at once her _cavaliere
servente_. He is bound to watch over her glass with as much interest as
over his own.

Art. 2.--The gentleman owes aid and protection to his fair neighbor in
the selection of food; the lady on her part is bound to respect and obey
the recommendations of her knight on this subject.

Art. 3.--It is bad taste for the gentleman to advance beyond politeness
during the first course; in the second, however, he is bound to be
complimentary; and he is at liberty to glide into tenderness with the
dessert.

_On Vicinity to Men._

Art. 1.--When two gentlemen sit together, they owe no duties to each
other beyond politeness and reciprocal offers of wine and water,--the
_last_ offer becomes an error after one refusal.

Art. 2.--On being helped to a dish, you should at once accept any
precedence offered you by your neighbor; ceremony serves only to cool
the plate in question for both parties.

Art. 3.--If you sit near the Amphitryon, your criticisms on the repast
must be conveyed in a whisper; aloud you can do noth