s that the six courses would
be all more or less warmings-up of viands that had figured in the day's
bill of fare.

"Bring me a chop or a steak, and a pint of dry sherry," Gilbert said
wearily.

"Have a slice of turbot and lobster-sauce, sir--the turbot are uncommon
fine to-day; and a briled fowl and mushrooms. It will be ready in five
minutes."

"You may bring me the fowl, if you like: I won't wait for fish. I'm in a
hurry."

The attendant gave a faint sigh, and communicated the order for the fowl
and mushrooms through a speaking-tube. It was the business of his life to
beguile his master's customers into over-eating themselves, and to set
his face against chops and steaks; but he felt that this particular
customer was proof against his blandishments. He took Gilbert an evening
paper, and then subsided into a pensive silence until the fowl appeared
in an agreeable frizzling state, fresh from the gridiron, but a bird of
some experience notwithstanding, and wingless. It was a very hasty meal.
Gilbert was eager to return to those chambers in the Temple--eager to be
listening once more for some chance words of meaning that might be
dropped from John Saltram's pale parched lips in the midst of incoherent
ravings. Come what might, he wanted to be near at hand, to watch that
sick-bed with a closer vigil than hired nurse ever kept; to be ready to
surprise the briefest interval of consciousness that might come all of a
sudden to that hapless fever-stricken sinner. Who should say that such an
interval would not come, or who could tell what such an interval might
reveal?

Gilbert Fenton paid for his dinner, left half his wine undrunk, and
hurried away; leaving the waiter with rather a contemptuous idea of him,
though that individual condescended to profit by his sobriety, and
finished the dry sherry at a draught.

It was nearly ten when Gilbert returned to the chambers, and all was
still quiet, that heavy slumber continuing; an artificial sleep at the
best, produced by one of Mr. Mew's sedatives. The sofa had been wheeled
from the bedroom to the sitting-room, and placed in a comfortable corner
by the fire. There were preparations too for a cup of tea, to be made and
consumed at any hour agreeable to the watcher; a small teakettle
simmering on the hob; a tray with a cup and saucer, and queer little
black earthenware teapot, on the table; a teacaddy and other appliances
close at hand,--all testifying to the grateful attenti