simple sort of room with freshly
papered walls, full of neatly laid tables, the very antithesis of the
familiar formal restaurant of ornate intention. The place was empty of
diners as yet--no doubt it was early for the usual clients; but the
proprietor, a grave bearded personage in spotless broad-cloth and with
the air of an ambassador, come forward bowing profoundly, and escorted
them to a choice corner. Through a half-open door at the back they had a
glimpse of a neat, comely Jewish woman busy amid pots and pans, whilst a
boy and a girl, who both looked good and intelligent, were industriously
doing their lessons at a side-table. The host waited on the adventurers
in person, taking the dishes from a younger and shyer assistant who
brought them from behind the scenes.

Despite the magnificent gravity of his presence, their host turned out
to be an unaffected human being, whom they encouraged to talk of his own
affairs, and who was pleased at their manifest interest in his homely
establishment and in his little family. His wife and he worked together,
and it was her cooking on which they were now being regaled. Their
favourable verdict gave him an almost naive gratification; a radiance
and an illumination broke brilliantly across his features. He told them
the Jewish names of the various dishes, but though they repeated them
sedulously, the strange, charming words would not remain in their heads
a moment. Meanwhile the kitchen was being stimulated to a display of
delicate skill and finesse; the fish was as good, declared Lady Betty,
as anything she had tasted at the Maison d'Or. A few other clients began
to appear--a long-bearded Russian, carefully dressed, accompanied by a
simple, buxom daughter of rosy complexion and deep, serious, aspiring
eyes; then a middle-aged man, with a leonine mane that was dashed with
grey and suggested the poor composer of genius; and finally a spectacled
German in a threadbare cut-away coat, carefully brushed, who suggested
unrequited scholarship. But all these, after the first distinguished bow
and salutation on the part of the host, were left to the attentions of
the assistant; the host himself being magnetised by the unaccustomed
guests with whom he was deep in conversation. But, though he waited on
them perfectly, there was yet conveyed in his bearing such a touch of
distinction and courteous affability that they were sensible as of an
honour that was being bestowed upon them. And that h