The suppression of gratuities enabled the monarch of this bevelled palace to offer a complete dinner for about the same price as a thimbleful of tea and ten drachms of cake a few yards away.

Happily the monarch, foreseeing his shame, had arranged a peculiar method of payment through a little hole, where the receiver could see nothing but his blushing hands.

As for the conjurers in evening dress, they apparently never soiled themselves by contact with specie.
Outside on the pavement, he was at a loss what to do.

You see, he was entirely unfamiliar with Mrs.Challice's code of etiquette.
"Would you care to go to the Alhambra or somewhere ?" he suggested, having a notion that this was the correct thing to say to a lady whose presence near you was directly due to her desire for marriage.
"It's very good of you," said she.

"But I'm sure you only say it out of kindness--because you're a gentleman.