[The Idler in France by Marguerite Gardiner]@TWC D-Link bookThe Idler in France CHAPTER XVI 4/11
The cook of another English nobleman conversing with him, said, "My master is like yours--a great _gourmand_." "Pardon me," replied the other; "there is a vast difference between our masters.
Yours is simply a _gourmand_, mine is an epicure as well." The Duc de Talleyrand, dining with us a few days ago, observed that to give a perfect dinner, the Amphitryon should have a French cook for soups, _entrees_ and _entremets_; an English _rotisseur_, and an Italian _confiseur_, as without these, a dinner could not be faultless. "But, alas!" said he--and he sighed while he spoke it--"the Revolution has destroyed our means of keeping these artists; and we eat now to support nature, instead of, as formerly, when we ate because it was a pleasure to eat." The good-natured Duc nevertheless seemed to eat his dinner as if he still continued to take a pleasure in the operation, and did ample justice to a certain _plat de cailles farcies_ which he pronounced to be perfect. Our landlord, le Marquis de L----, has sent to offer us the refusal of our beautiful abode.
The Duc de N---- has proposed to take it for fourteen on twenty-one years, at the same rent we pay (an extravagant one, by the bye), and as we only took it for a year, we must eithor leave or hire it for fourteen or twenty-one years, which is out of the question. Nothing can be more fair or honourable than the conduct of the Marquis de L----, for he laid before us the offer of the Duc de N----; but as we do not intend to remain more than two or three years more in Paris, we must leave this charming house, to our infinite regret, when the year for which we have hired it expires.
Gladly would we have engaged it for two, or even three years more, but this is now impossible; and we shall have the trouble of again going the round of house-hunting. When I look on the suite of rooms in which I have passed such pleasant days, I am filled with regret at the prospect of leaving them, but it cannot be helped, so it is useless to repine.
We have two months to look about us, and many friends who are occupied in assisting us in the search. A letter from Lord B----; better, but still ailing.
<<Back Index Next>> D-Link book Top TWC mobile books
|