Mauleverer, who hated state, except on great occasions, when no man displayed it with a better grace, never suffered his servants to wait at dinner when he was alone or with one of his peculiar friends.

The attendants remained without, and were summoned at will by a bell laid beside the host.
The conversation was unrestrained.
"I am perfectly certain, Brandon," said Mauleverer, "that if you were to live tolerably well, you would soon get the better of your nervous complaints.

It is all poverty of blood, believe me.

Some more of the fins, eh ?--No! Oh, hang your abstemiousness; it is d----d unfriendly to eat so little! Talking of fins and friends, Heaven defend me from ever again forming an intimacy with a pedantic epicure, especially if he puns!" "Why, what has a pedant to do with fins ?" "I will tell you,--ah, this madeira--I suggested to Lord Dareville, who affects the gourmand, what a capital thing a dish all fins (turbot's fins) might be made.

'Capital!' said he, in a rapture; 'dine on it with me to-morrow.' 'Volontiers!' said I.The next day, after indulging in a pleasing revery all the morning as to the manner in which Dareville's cook, who is not without genius, would accomplish the grand idea, I betook myself punctually to my engagement.