ed his countenance, as he rapped excitedly
on the table.

"Waiter, waiter, do you see that soup?" he almost shouted.

"Yes, Monsieur le Marquis," was the humble response.

"Look at it well!" thundered the old gentleman. "Do you find nothing
extraordinary about it?"

Again the bouillon was examined, to the amusement of the manager.

"I am sorry, Monsieur le Marquis; I can detect nothing unusual,"
politely responded the waiter, when he had concluded a pains-taking
scrutiny with all the gravity and seriousness attending so momentous
an investigation.

"You are blind!" exclaimed the old man. "See there; a spot of grease
floating in the bouillon, and there, another and another! In fact,
here is an 'Archipelago of Greece!'" This witticism was relieved by an
ironical smile. "Take it away!"

The waiter hurried off with the offending dish and the old man looked
immensely satisfied over the disturbance he had created.

"Well has it been said," thought the manager, "that the destiny of a
nation depends upon the digestion of its first minister! I wonder what
he'll do next?"

Course after course that followed was rejected, the guest keeping up a
running comment:

"This sauce is not properly prepared. This salad is not well mixed.
I shall starve in this place. These truffles; spoiled in the
importation!"

"Oh, Monsieur le Marquis,"--clasping his hands in despair--"they were
preserved in melted paraffin."

"What do I care about your paraffin? Never mind anything more, waiter.
I could not eat a mouthful. What is the bill? Very well; and there is
something for yourself, blockhead."

"Thank you, Monsieur le Marquis." Deferentially.

"The worst meal I've ever had! And I've been in Europe, Asia and
Africa. Abominable--abominable--idiot of a waiter--miserable place,
miserable--and this dyspepsia--"

Thus running on, with snatches of caustic criticism, the old gentleman
shambled out, the waiter holding the door open for him and bowing
obsequiously.

"An amiable individual!" observed Barnes to the waiter. "Is he
stopping at the hotel?"

"No, Monsieur. He has an elegant house near by. The last time he was
here he complimented the cook and praised the sauces. He is a
little--what you call it?--whimsical!"

"Yes; slightly inclined that way. But is he here alone?"

"He is, Monsieur. He loses great sums in the gambling rooms. He keeps
a box at the theater for the season. He is a prince--a great lord--?"

"Even if he cal