verbatim.]

"'Yes,' cries the venerable professor himself, in a virtuous and
prophetic paroxysm of indignant merit--'yes, my disciples, if you adopt,
and attend to the rules I have laid down, the self-love of mankind will
consent at last, that cookery shall rank in the class of the sciences,
and its professors deserve the name of artists!'" [Note: Ibid.]

"My dear, dear Sir," exclaimed Guloseton, with a kindred glow, "I
discover in you a spirit similar to my own. Let us drink long life to
the venerable Ude!"

"I pledge you, with all my soul," said I, filling my glass to the brim.

"What a pity," rejoined Guloseton, "that Ude, whose practical science
was so perfect, should ever have written, or suffered others to write,
the work published under his name; true it is that the opening part
which you have so feelingly recited, is composed with a grace, a charm
beyond the reach of art; but the instructions are vapid, and frequently
so erroneous, as to make me suspect their authenticity; but, after
all, cooking is not capable of becoming a written science--it is the
philosophy of practice!"

"Ah! by Lucullus," exclaimed I, interrupting my host, "what a visionary
bechamelle! Oh, the inimitable sauce; these chickens are indeed worthy
of the honour of being dressed. Never, my lord, as long as you live, eat
a chicken in the country; excuse a pun, you will have foul fare."

"'J'ai toujours redoute la volaille perfide, Qui brave les efforts
d'une dent intrepide; Souvent par un ami, dans ses champs entraine.
J'ai reconnu le soir le coq infortune Qui m'avait le matin a l'aurore
naissante Reveille brusquement de sa voix glapissante; Je l'avais admire
dans le sein de la cour, Avec des yeux jaloux, j'avais vu son amour.
Helas! la malheureux, abjurant sa tendresse, Exercait a souper sa fureur
vengeresse.'

"Pardon the prolixity of my quotation for the sake of its value."

"I do, I do," answered Guloseton, laughing at the humour of the lines:
till, suddenly checking himself, he said, "we must be grave, Mr. Pelham,
it will never do to laugh. What would become of our digestions?"

"True," said I, relapsing into seriousness; "and if you will allow me
one more quotation, you will see what my author adds with regard to any
abrupt interruption.

"'Defendez que personne au milieu d'un banquet, Ne vous vienne donner
un avis indiscret, Ecartez ce facheux qui vers vous s'achemine, Rien ne
doit deranger l'honnete homme qui dine."

"Admi