As to Hatty Chessman! The thought of this old friend caused a cloud of thought to obscure the perfect glassiness of his eyes: He shouldn't wonder if she drank half a bottle! But in thinking of his remaining guest, an expression like that of a cat who is just going to purr stole over his old face: Mrs.Soames! She mightn't take much, but she would appreciate what she drank; it was a pleasure to give her good wine! A pretty woman--and sympathetic to him! The thought of her was like champagne itself! A pleasure to give a good wine to a young woman who looked so well, who knew how to dress, with charming manners, quite distinguished--a pleasure to entertain her.
Between the points of his collar he gave his head the first small, painful oscillation of the evening.
"Adolf!" he said.

"Put in another bottle." He himself might drink a good deal, for, thanks to that prescription of Blight's, he found himself extremely well, and he had been careful to take no lunch.

He had not felt so well for weeks.

Puffing out his lower lip, he gave his last instructions: "Adolf, the least touch of the West India when you come to the ham." Passing into the anteroom, he sat down on the edge of a chair, with his knees apart; and his tall, bulky form was wrapped at once in an expectant, strange, primeval immobility.

He was ready to rise at a moment's notice.