but when three or more gentlemen dine together at five
o'clock, the dinner becomes a commercial dinner, and the commercial
laws as to wine, &c., are enforced, with more or less restriction as
circumstances may seem to demand. At the present time there was but
one occupant of the chamber to greet Mr. Gilmore when he entered,
and this greeting was made with all the full honours of commercial
courtesy. The commercial gentleman is of his nature gregarious, and
although he be exclusive to a strong degree, more so probably than
almost any other man in regard to the sacred hour of dinner, when
in the full glory of his confraternity, he will condescend, when
the circumstances of his profession have separated him from his
professional brethren, to be festive with almost any gentleman whom
chance may throw in his way. Mr. Cockey had been alone for a whole
day when Gilmore arrived, having reached Loring just twenty-four
hours in advance of our friend, and was contemplating the sadly
diminished joys of a second solitary dinner at the Bull, when fortune
threw this stranger in his way. The waiter, looking at the matter in
a somewhat similar light, and aware that a combined meal would be for
the advantage of all parties, very soon assisted Mr. Cockey in making
his arrangements for the evening. Mr. Gilmore would no doubt want to
dine. Dinner would be served at five o'clock. Mr. Cockey was going to
dine, and Mr. Gilmore, the waiter thought, would probably be glad to
join him. Mr. Cockey expressed himself as delighted, and would only
be too happy. Now men in love, let their case be ever so bad, must
dine or die. So much no doubt is not admitted by the chroniclers
of the old knights who went forth after their ladies; but the
old chroniclers, if they soared somewhat higher than do those
of the present day, are admitted to have been on the whole less
circumstantially truthful. Our knight was very sad at heart, and
would have done according to his prowess as much as any Orlando of
them all for the lady whom he loved,--but nevertheless he was an
hungered; the mention of dinner was pleasant to him, and he accepted
the joint courtesies of Mr. Cockey and the waiter with gratitude.

The codfish and beefsteak, though somewhat woolly and tough, were
wholesome; and the pint of sherry which at Mr. Cockey's suggestion
was supplied to them, if not of itself wholesome, was innocent
by reason of its dimensions. Mr. Cockey himself was pleasant and
commu