He suggested caviare, a white soup, a king-fish, a tourne-dos, and a grouse--does that appeal ?" "You take my breath away," she said, with valorous effort to seem at ease.
"Now--as to wine ?" "I seldom touch wine." "To-night it will make you sleep.

What do you say to a glass of Clos Vosgeot ?" "Is that a claret ?" "Yes." "Well, as it happens, that is the one wine I take." The dinner proceeded most pleasantly.

To his own astonishment, Curtis worked up sufficient appetite to enjoy the meal, though he would have stuffed himself remorselessly to save his charming _vis-a-vis_ from the slightest embarrassment.

But he only sipped the wine, for a sixth sense warned him that he must keep a clear head that night.
By inference rather than plain statement, for a deft waiter was constantly coming in and out, he supplied Hermione with glimpses of his own career, and ascertained from her that she had secured Marcelle's services through the good offices of a lady who was a fellow-passenger on the ship.
"She comes from New Orleans, but, notwithstanding her name, she does not speak French," said Hermione.

"I think that rather accounts for----" She stopped, and Curtis did not press for an explanation, but she continued, after a second's pause: "Marcelle did not like Monsieur de Courtois.