Tell me, are they food for men and women?
Why, they're pap for babes and shop-boys! I was a blanky actor moyself!" Shelton listened with mingled feelings of amusement and dismay, till the old actor, having finished, resumed his crouching posture at the table.
"You don't get dhrunk, I suppose ?" he said suddenly--"too much of 'n Englishman, no doubt." "Very seldom," said Shelton.
"Pity! Think of the pleasures of oblivion! Oi 'm dhrunk every night." "How long will you last at that rate ?" "There speaks the Englishman! Why should Oi give up me only pleasure to keep me wretched life in?
If you've anything left worth the keeping shober for, keep shober by all means; if not, the sooner you are dhrunk the better--that stands to reason." In the corridor Shelton asked the Frenchman where the old man came from.
"Oh, and Englishman! Yes, yes, from Belfast very drunken old man.

You are a drunken nation"-- he made a motion with his hands "he no longer eats--no inside left.

It is unfortunate-a man of spirit.

If you have never seen one of these palaces, monsieur, I shall be happy to show you over it." Shelton took out his cigarette case.
"Yes, yes," said the Frenchman, making a wry nose and taking a cigarette; "I'm accustomed to it.

But you're wise to fumigate the air; one is n't in a harem." And Shelton felt ashamed of his fastidiousness.
"This," said the guide, leading him up-stairs and opening a door, "is a specimen of the apartments reserved for these princes of the blood." There were four empty beds on iron legs, and, with the air of a showman, the Frenchman twitched away a dingy quilt.