There were about thirty guests seated round, in august silence, most of them very smartly dressed, and nearly all English.

A stout gentleman, with a little knob on the top of his bald head, a buff waistcoat, and a shirt amply frilled, sat opposite to me, flanked on either side by an elderly daughter in green silk.

On my left I was supported by a thin young gentleman with fair hair, and blue glasses.

To my right stood a vacant chair, the occupant of which had not yet arrived; and at the head of the table sat a spare pale man dressed all in black, who spoke to no one, kept his eyes fixed upon his plate, and was served by the waiters with especial servility.

The soup came and went in profound silence.