n grilled, not roasted. I'll look over the treaty in the
evening. One mushroom, only one, he may give me, and the Carlsbad water,
at 28 degrees. I 'm very troublesome, Brockett, but I 'm sure you 'll
excuse it. Thanks, thanks;" and he pressed the Secretary's hand, and
gave him a smile, whose blandishment had often done good service, and
would do so again!

To almost any other man in the world this interruption to his
journey--this sudden tidings of a formally-arranged dinner which he
could not or would not attend--would have proved a source of chagrin and
dissatisfaction. Not so with Upton; he liked a "contrariety." Whatever
stirred the still waters of life, even though it should be a head-wind,
was far more grateful than a calm! He laughed to himself at the various
comments his company were sure to pass over his conduct; he pictured to
his mind the anger of some and the astonishment of others, and revelled
in the thought of the courtier-like indignation such treatment of a
Royal Highness was certain to elicit.

"But who can answer for his health?" said he, with an easy laugh to
himself. "Who can promise what he may be ten days hence?" The appearance
of his dinner--if one may dignify by such a name the half of a chicken,
flanked by a roasted apple and a biscuit--cut short his lucubrations;
and Sir Horace ate and sipped his Carlsbad with as much enjoyment as
many another man has felt over venison and Chambertin.

"Are they arrived, Pipo?" said he, as his servant removed the dessert of
two figs and a lime.

"Yes, your Excellency, they are at table."

"How many are there?"

"Seventeen, sir, and Mr. Brockett."

"Did the Prince seem to--to feel my absence, Pipo?"

"I thought he appeared very sorry for your Excellency when Mr. Brockett
spoke to him, and he whispered something to the aide-de-camp beside
him."

"And the others, how did they take it?"

"Count Tarrocco said he'd retire, sir, that he could not dine where the
host was too ill to receive him; but the Duc de Campo Stretto said
it was impossible they could leave the room while a 'Royal Highness'
continued to remain in it; and they all agreed with him."

"Ha, ha, ha!" laughed Upton, in a low tone. "I hope the dinner is a good
one?"

"It is exquisite, sir; the Prince ate some of the caviare soup, and was
asking a second time for the 'pain des ortolans' when I left the room."

"And the wine, Pipo? have you given them that rare 'La Rose'?"

"Yes, your Ex