And as he really will be an excellent judge of eating and drinking, and

will bring his whole mind to bear upon the question, and will speedily

acquire an experience which no person out of the profession can possibly

have; and as, moreover, he will be an honorable man, not practising upon

his client in any way, or demanding sixpence beyond his just fee, the

world will gain vastly by the coming forward of such a person,--gain in

good dinners, and absolutely save money: for what is five guineas for a

dinner of sixteen? The sum may be gaspille by a cook-wench, or by one of

those abominable before-named pastry-cooks with their green trays.

If any man take up the business, he will invite me, of course, to the

Monday dinners. Or does ingratitude go so far as that a man should

forget the author of his good fortune? I believe it does. Turn we away

from the sickening theme!

And now, having concluded my professions, how shall I express my

obligations to the discriminating press of this country for the

unanimous applause which hailed my first appearance? It is the more

wonderful, as I pledge my sacred word, I never wrote a document before

much longer than a laundress's bill, or the acceptance of an invitation

to dinner. But enough of this egotism: thanks for praise conferred sound

like vanity; gratitude is hard to speak of, and at present it swells the

full heart of

GEORGE SAVAGE FITZ-BOODLE.

The Fitz-Boodle Papers · 第 7 / 7 段