It would be impossible to say what was not talked about during that wonderful meal.

The private affairs of Hawk Street were freely canvassed, and the private affairs of every one of the company were discussed with the most charming frankness.

I found myself giving an account of my uncle to the Field-marshal, which confidence he reciprocated by telling me that he was a private in the volunteers (that was why the fellows called him Field-Marshal), and an accountant's clerk, that his income was fifty pounds a year, that he had saved seven pounds, that he was engaged to a most charming person named Felicia, whom at the present rate of his progress he hoped to marry in about twenty years.

Whipcord was discoursing on the points of every racehorse in the calendar to the twins, who had evidently never seen a racehorse; and Daly was telling stories which half choked Crow, and kept us all in fits of laughter.

It was a new life to me, this, and no mistake.
"Now then, young Batchelor, walk into those sardines, do you hear ?" said our host.