That would have been the case had I not been detained at the last moment by an old friend.

Pray forgive me!" I consented to do so, and we entered the restaurant together.
I discovered that he had already engaged a table, arranged the _menu_, and bespoken the wines.

We accordingly sat down, and the strangest meal of which I had ever partaken commenced.

Less than a week before, the man sitting in front of me had endeavoured to bring about my destruction; now he was my host, and to all outward appearances my friend as well.

I found him a most agreeable companion, a witty conversationalist, and a born _raconteur_.