'Anything the matter, Apjohn?' said Mr. Fothergill, kindly, seeing the utter despair written on the poor man's countenance; 'can I get anything for you?'
'The sauce!' said Mr. Apjohn, in a voice that would have melted a hermit; and as he looked at Mr. Fothergill, he pointed at the now distant sinner, who was dispensing his melted ambrosia at least ten heads upwards, away from the unfortunate supplicant.
Mr. Fothergill, however, knew where to look for balm for such wounds, and in a minute or two Mr. Apjohn was employed quite to his heart's content.
'Well,' said Frank to his neighbour, 'it may be very well once in a way; but I think that on the whole Dr. Thorne is right.'
'My dear Mr. Gresham, see the world on all sides,' said Mr. Athill, who had also been somewhat intent on the gratification of his own appetite, though with an energy less evident than that of the gentleman opposite. 'See the world on all sides if you have an opportunity; and, believe me, a good dinner now and then is a very good thing.'
'Yes; but I don't like eating it with hogs.'
'Whish—h! softly, softly, Mr. Gresham, or you'll disturb Mr. Apjohn's digestion. Upon my word, he'll want it all before he has done. Now, I like this kind of thing once in a way.'
'Do you?' said Frank, in a tone that was almost savage.
'Yes; indeed I do. One sees so much character. And after all, what harm does it do?'
'My idea is that people should live with those whose society is pleasant to them.'
'Live—yes, Mr. Gresham—I agree with you there. It wouldn't do for me to live with the Duke of Omnium; I shouldn't understand, or probably approve, his ways. Nor should I, perhaps, much like the constant presence of Mr. Apjohn. But now and then—once in a year or so—I do own I like to see them both. Here's the cup; now whatever you do, Mr. Gresham, don't pass the cup without tasting it.'
And so the dinner passed on, slowly enough as Frank thought, but all too quickly for Mr. Apjohn. It passed away, and the wine came circulating freely. The tongues again were loosed, the teeth being released from their labours, and under the influence of the claret the duke's presence was forgotten.
But very speedily the coffee was brought. 'This will soon be over now,' said Frank, to himself, thankfully; for, though he by no means despised good claret, he had lost his temper too completely to enjoy it at the present moment. But he was much
