He looked round in some disgust at the crowds of
waiters, and at the glimpses he caught every now and then of
gentlemen in evening dress, and what annoyed him more than anything
else--ladies in bright array. Oh! a dissipated place was Leslie's,
and even in the daytime had a rakish-looking appearance as if it had
been up all night and knew a thing or two. Mr Meddlechip would have
retreated from this den of iniquity if he could, but as he wanted to
have a thorough explanation with Vandeloup, he meekly followed the
Frenchman through a well-lighted passage, with statues on either
side holding lamps, to a little room beautifully furnished, wherein
a supper table was laid out. Here the waiter who conducted them took
their hats and Meddlechip's coat and hung them up, then waited
respectfully for M. Vandeloup to give his orders. A portly looking
waiter he was, with a white waistcoat, a white shirt, which bulged
out in a most obtrusive manner, and a large white cravat, which was
tied round an equally large white collar. When he walked he rolled
along like a white-crested wave, and with his napkin under his arm,
the heel of one foot in the hollow of the other, and his large red
face, surmounted by a few straggling tufts of black hair, he was
truly wonderful to behold.
This magnificent creature, who answered to the name of Gurchy,
received Vandeloup's orders with a majestic bend of his head, then
rolling up to Mr Meddlechip, he presented the bill of fare to that
gentleman, who, however, refused it.
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