telescope."

Of this the Rev. Dr. Millar was a pleasing specimen. With that
consciousness of having done everything possible for your comfort which
makes a good host, he had a racy gratification in quietly watching
your enjoyment. Easily and unobtrusively marking your taste for this
or preference for that, he would contrive that your liking should be
gratified, as though by mere accident, and never let you know yourself a
debtor for the attentions bestowed upon you. It was his pride to have
a perfect establishment: would that all vanity were as harmless and as
pleasurable to others! And now to the dinner, which, in our digression,
we are forgetting.

"Try these cutlets, doctor," interposed the host. "It is a receipt I
brought back with me from Provence; I think you 'll find them good."

"An over-rich, greasy sort of cuisine is the Provencale," remarked
Ogden.

"And yet almost every good cook of France comes from that country," said
Layton.

Ogden raised his large double eye-glass to look at the man who thus
dared to "cap" a remark of his.

"I wish we could get out of the bastard French cookery all the clubs
give us nowadays," said the Colonel. "You neither see a good English
Joint nor a well-dressed entree."

"An emblem of the alliance," said Layton, "where each nation spoils
something of its own in the effort to be more palatable to its
neighbor."

"Apparently, then, sir, the great statesmen who promoted this policy
are not fortunate enough to enjoy your sanction?" said Ogden, with an
insolent air.

"My sanction is scarcely the word for it They have not, certainly, my
approval."

"I hope you like French wines, though, doctor," said the host, eager to
draw the conversation into some easier channel. "Taste that Sauterne."

"It only wants age to be perfect," said the doctor, sipping. "All these
French white wines require more time than the red."

Ogden again looked through his glass at the dispensary doctor who thus
dared to give Judgment on a question of such connoisseurship; and then,
with the air of one not easily imposed on, said,--

"You have travelled much abroad, perhaps?"

Layton bowed a silent assent

"I think I saw a German diploma amongst the papers you forwarded to our
committee?" said Karstairs.

"Yes, I am a doctor of medicine of Gottingen."

"A university, I verily believe, only known to Englishmen through
Canning's doggerel," said Ogden.

"I trust not, sir. I hope that Blumenbach'