acco-box.

'Now for the chorus!

'Yes, he always had tobacco in his old tobacco-box.

'But you're not singing. I thought you would be making the welkin ring.'

'I never sang that song in my life,' protested Mr Cupples. 'I never
heard it before.'

'Are you sure?' enquired Trent doubtfully. 'Well, I suppose I must take
your word for it. It is a beautiful song, anyhow: not the whole warbling
grove in concert heard can beat it. Somehow it seems to express my
feelings at the present moment as nothing else could; it rises unbidden
to the lips. Out of the fullness of the heart the mouth speaketh, as
the Bishop of Bath and Wells said when listening to a speech of Mr
Balfour's.'

'When was that?' asked Mr Cupples.

'On the occasion,' replied Trent, 'of the introduction of the Compulsory
Notification of Diseases of Poultry Bill, which ill-fated measure you
of course remember. Hullo!' he broke off, as the cab rushed down a side
street and swung round a corner into a broad and populous thoroughfare,
'we're there already'. The cab drew up.

'Here we are,' said Trent, as he paid the man, and led Mr Cupples into a
long, panelled room set with many tables and filled with a hum of talk.
'This is the house of fulfilment of craving, this is the bower with
the roses around it. I see there are three bookmakers eating pork at my
favourite table. We will have that one in the opposite corner.'

He conferred earnestly with a waiter, while Mr Cupples, in a pleasant
meditation, warmed himself before the great fire. 'The wine here,' Trent
resumed, as they seated themselves, 'is almost certainly made out of
grapes. What shall we drink?'

Mr Cupples came out of his reverie. 'I think,' he said, 'I will have
milk and soda water.'

'Speak lower!' urged Trent. 'The head-waiter has a weak heart, and might
hear you. Milk and soda water! Cupples, you may think you have a strong
constitution, and I don't say you have not, but I warn you that this
habit of mixing drinks has been the death of many a robuster man than
you. Be wise in time. Fill high the bowl with Samian wine, leave soda to
the Turkish hordes. Here comes our food.' He gave another order to the
waiter, who ranged the dishes before them and darted away. Trent was, it
seemed, a respected customer. 'I have sent,' he said, 'for wine that I
know, and I hope you will try it. If you have taken a vow, then in the
name of all the teetotal saints drink water, which stands at your elbow,
but