travelling, and he has his own carriage, which pleases him.'

'There are Philippon and Dumoreau,' said Prevost; 'they are very safe.'

'I was thinking of them,' said Leander, 'they are safe, under you.
And there is an Englishman, Smit, he is chef at Sir Stanley's, but his
master is away at this moment. He has talent.'

'Yourself, four chefs, with your marmitons; it would do,' said Prevost.

'For the kitchen,' said Leander; 'but who is to dress the tables?'

'A-h!' exclaimed Papa Prevost, shaking his head.

'Daubuz' head man, Trenton, is the only one I could trust; and he wants
fancy, though his style is broad and bold. He made a pyramid of pines
relieved with grapes, without destroying the outline, very good, this
last week, at Hellingsley. But Trenton has been upset on the railroad,
and much injured. Even if he recover, his hand will tremble so for the
next month that! could have no confidence in him.'

'Perhaps you might find some one at the Duke's?'

'Out of the question!' said Leander; 'I make it always a condition
that the head of every department shall be appointed by myself. I take
Pellerini with me for the confectionery. How often have I seen the
effect of a first-rate dinner spoiled by a vulgar dessert! laid flat on
the table, for example, or with ornaments that look as if they had been
hired at a pastrycook's: triumphal arches, and Chinese pagodas, and
solitary pines springing up out of ice-tubs surrounded with peaches, as
if they were in the window of a fruiterer of Covent Garden.'

'Ah! it is incredible what uneducated people will do,' said Prevost.
'The dressing of the tables was a department of itself in the Imperial
kitchen.'

'It demands an artist of a high calibre,' said Leander. 'I know only
one man who realises my idea, and he is at St. Petersburg. You do not
know Anastase? There is a man! But the Emperor has him secure. He can
scarcely complain, however, since he is decorated, and has the rank of
full colonel.'

'Ah!' said Prevost, mournfully, 'there is no recognition of genius in
this country. What think you of Vanesse, my child? He has had a regular
education.'

'In a bad school: as a pis aller one might put up with him. But his
eternal tiers of bonbons! As if they were ranged for a supper of the
Carnival, and my guests were going to pelt each other! No, I could not
stand Vanesse, papa.'

'The dressing of the table: 'tis a rare talent,' said Prevost,
mournfully, 'and always was. In t