gement could not give you a little more time."

"Failing that, sir," the professor declared, "my point is, as I
explained before, that Beatrice should give up one of her songs. What
you have said this evening more than ever confirms me in my view."

Beatrice smiled thankfully at Tavernake.

"Well," she suggested, "at any rate we will leave it for the present.
Sometimes I think, though, father, that you frighten them with some of
your work, and you must remember that they come to be amused."

"That," the professor admitted, "is the most sensible remark you have
made, Beatrice. There is indeed something terrifying in some of my
manifestations, terrifying even to myself, who understand so thoroughly
my subject. However, as you say, we will dismiss the matter for the
present. The thought of this supper party is a pleasant one. Do you
remember, Mr. Tavernake, the night when you and I met in the balcony at
Imano's?"

"Perfectly well," Tavernake answered.

"Now I shall test your memory," the professor continued, with a knowing
smile. "Can you remember, sir, the brand of champagne which I was then
drinking, and which I declared, if you recollect, was the one which best
agreed with me, the one brand worth drinking?"

"I am afraid I don't remember that," Tavernake confessed. "Restaurant
life is a thing I know so little of, and I have only drunk champagne
once or twice in my life."

"Dear, dear me!" the professor exclaimed. "You do astonish me, sir.
Well, that brand was Veuve Clicquot, and you may take my word for it,
Mr. Tavernake, and you may find this knowledge useful to you when you
have made a fortune in America and have become a man of pleasure; there
is no wine equal to it. Veuve Clicquot, sir, if possible of the year
1899, though the year 1900 is quite drinkable."

"Veuve Clicquot," Tavernake repeated. "I'll remember it for this
evening."

The professor beamed.

"My dear," he said to Beatrice, "Mr. Tavernake will think that I had a
purpose in testing his memory."

Beatrice smiled.

"And hadn't you, father?" she asked.

They all laughed together.

"Well, it is pleasant," the professor admitted, "to have one's
weaknesses ministered to, especially when one is getting on in life,"
he added, with a ponderous sigh. "Never mind, we will think only of
pleasant subjects this evening. It will be quite interesting, Mr.
Tavernake, to hear you order the supper."

"I sha'n't attempt it," Tavernake answered. "I shall