n, called to him across the room that he had dropped his
handkerchief, and then with the consciousness of having done a
neighborly turn, he proceeded to eat his dinner. He studied for some
time over his own napkin, but eventually concluded that it would be
proper to put it in his chair, so that he would not soil the cushion,
and accordingly disposed of it in that manner, and sat down upon it with
great care, for fear he should tear it. He then opened his bill of fare
at the wine-list, and after puzzling for some time over the names, put
his finger in the middle, and told the waiter he would "have some of
that." The servant perceiving how matters stood, and having compassion
on his queer customer, brought him some soup. He at once set to work to
eat it with his fork, in which attempt he scalded both his mouth and his
fingers, whereupon he drank the water in his finger-bowl to cool his
mouth, and wiped his fingers in his hair to reduce their temperature.
The considerate waiter came once more to the rescue, and brought him
some beef, and also performed the same kindness for Dennis, and probably
saved him from absolute starvation. But Overdale, never remarkable for
strict temperance, looked for something to drink, and perceiving nothing
that looked juicy, save the bottles in the castor-stand, he took out one
of them, and having filled an egg-cup with the contents thereof, drank
it down. As it was salad oil, he did not feel disposed to repeat the
experiment. Having cleaned his nails with a nut-pick, and pared an apple
with a fish-slice, he concluded his performances by putting half a dozen
fried oysters in his pocket and leaving the table.

At night they went immediately to bed, only finding their own rooms
after poking their heads into every other apartment on the same floor,
and eventually securing the services of the chambermaid as a guide.

Overdale having got this lady to light his gas, was not able to get to
bed without doing something further extraordinary, so wishing to open
his window, he called a boy to his door twenty-seven times, by pulling
at the bell-rope, which he imagined to be connected, in some
inexplicable manner, with the sash. He was at last ready to go to sleep,
when he blew out his gas, and laid down on the carpet, covering himself
with the hearth-rug, fearing to get into the bed lest he should rumple
the sheets. He woke up subsequently, and yelled for a waiter. One
happened to be passing in the hall a