I had no such intent." The stranger removed his hand from the table and drew himself erect.
"So much for that, then," said he, provokingly contemptuous.

"If you will be as amiable in the matter of the supper I shall be glad to terminate an acquaintance which I can see no honour to myself in pursuing." This, Garnache felt, was more than he could endure.

A spasm of passion crossed his face, another instant and despite Rabecque's frantic proddings he might have flung the ragout in the gentleman's face; when suddenly came the landlord unexpectedly to the rescue.
"Monsieur, here comes your supper now," he announced, as his wife reentered from the kitchen with a laden tray.
For a moment the stranger seemed out of countenance.

Then he looked with cold insolence from the dishes set before Garnache to those which were being set for himself.
"Ah," said he, and his tone was an insult unsurpassable, "perhaps it is to be preferred.

This ragout grows cold, I think." He sniffed, and turning on his heel, without word or sign of salutation to Garnache, he passed to the next table, and sat down with his companions.