of mock admiration.
Sir John tried hard to keep up the imposition, but something, either his
innate honesty or the chilling environment of disapproval of Guercino's
handiwork, was too much for him. He did his best to admire, but the
task was beyond his powers, and he raised no protest when some scoffer
affirmed that, though Browning might be a great poet, he was a mighty
poor judge of painting, when he gave in his beautiful poem immortality
to this tawdry theatrical canvas. 'I think,' said Sir John, 'we had
better go back to the hotel and order lunch. It would have been wiser
to have ordered it before we left.' We were all so much touched by his
penitence that no one had the heart to remind him how a proposition as
to lunch had been made by our leading Philistine as soon as we arrived,
a proposition waved aside by Sir John as inadmissible until the
'Guardian Angel' should have been seen and admired."

"I plead guilty," said Sir John. "I think this experience gave a
death-blow to my career as an appreciator. Anyhow, I quite forget what
the angel was like, and for reminiscences of Fano have to fall back
upon the excellent colazione we ate in the externally unattractive, but
internally admirable, Albergo del Moro."

Menu--Lunch.

Astachi all'Italiana. Lobster all'Italiana
Filetto di bue alla Napolitana. Fillet of beef with Neapolitan sauce.
Risotto alla spagnuola. Savoury rice.

Menu--Dinner.

Zuppa alla Romana. Soup with quenelles.
Salmone alla Genovese. Salmon alla Genovese.
Costolette in agro-dolce. Mutton cutlets with Roman sauce.
Flano di spinacci. Spinach in a mould.
Cappone con rive. Capon with rice.
Croccante di mandorle. Almond sweet.
Ostriche alla Napolitana. Oyster savoury.

The Ninth Day

"Since I have been associated with the production of a dinner, I have
had my eyes opened as to the complicated nature of the task, and the
numerous strings which have to be pulled in order to ensure success,"
said the Colonel; "but, seeing that a dinner-party with well-chosen
sympathetic guests and distinguished dishes represents one of the
consummate triumphs of civilisation, there is no reason to wonder. To
achieve a triumph of any sort demands an effort."

"Effort," said Miss Macdonnell. "Yes, effort is the word I associate
with so many middle-class English dinners. It is an effort