THE FIRST WATCH OF THE NIGHT 135
have you never been unfortunate? It is that which is want-
ing in your life. Who can appreciate happiness if mis-
fortune has never, even for a moment, assailed him?"
And at this observation, full of wisdom, the philosopher, raising his glass full of the best champagne, said, "I wish that the sun of our host's life may be a little darkened, and that he may experience some sorrows.' After which he emptied his glass.
The host made a nod of assent, and lapsed into his habitual apathy.
Where did this conversation take place? Was it in a European dining-room in Paris, London, Vienna, or St. Petersburg? Were these six guests assembled together in a restaurant in the Old or the New World? And who were they who, without having drunk to excess, were dis- cussing these questions in the midst of a feast? They were not Frenchmen, you may rest assured, because they were not talking politics.
These six guests were seated in a medium-sized dining- room elegantly decorated. The last rays of the sun were streaming through the net-work of blue and orange window- glass, and past the open windows the breeze was full of the odor of natural flowers. A few lanterns mingled their variegated light with the dying light of day. Above the windows were sculptured and rich arabesques, representing celestial and terrestrial beauty, and animals and vegetables of a strange fauna and flora.
As to the servants, they were very prepossessing young girls, whose hair was mingled with lilies and chrysanthe- mums, and whose arms were coquettishly encircled with bracelets of gold. Smiling, they served or removed the dishes with one hand, while with the other each gracefully waved a large fan which restored the currents of the air.
The moment came at last when the young girls brought in, not, according to European fashion, finger-bowls con- taining perfumed water, but napkins saturated with warm water, which each of the guests passed over his face with extreme satisfaction.
It was only an interlude of the repast-an hour of luxuri- ous rest, while the music filled up the moments, for soon a troupe of singers and musicians entered the room. The singers were young and pretty girls, of modest appearance
