In Which We Meet the Other Man, Also Another Woman

"Enfin, M'sieu?" said he, smiling.

"Pas encore, Jean!" I replied.

I saw a slow flush on Helena's cheek, but she gave no other sign that
she had overheard. So I began forthwith making much ado about ordering
our supper, which as usual really was much a matter of Jean's taste.

"We have to-night in the ice-boxes, M'sieu," said that artist, "some
cock oysters which are dreams. Moreover, I have laid aside two
canvasbacks, the best I ever saw--it was in the hope that some really
good friend of mine would come in. Behold, I am happy--I must have
been expecting you. Believe me, we have never had better birds than
these. They are excellent."

"Perhaps the oysters, Jean," said I, "very small and dark. I presume
possibly a very small fillet of trout this evening, and the
sauce--you still can make it, Jean? Such entrées as you like, of
course. But, since Mademoiselle--" and here I smiled--"and I, also,
are very hungry this evening, we wish a woodcock after the canvasback,
if you do not mind. Perhaps it is not too much?"

"Mais non!" replied Jean. "You are of those who know well that to
eat too much is not to dine well. But I shall bring you two oysters,
marinière--a sauce my own wife invented. And yes, some small bird,
beccasine, broiled lightly--perhaps you will enjoy it after the
canvasback, although I assure you those are excellent indeed. We have
few sweets here, as M'sieu knows, but cheese, if you like, and of
course coffee; and always we have the red wine which I remember M'sieu
liked so much."