The idea was a novel one to Mr. Duckie, who had served for so many years in a restaurant where the bill of fare spelt new potatoes and new peas in capital letters right into August, and prefixed the word fresh to its coffee all the year round. "People don't like to be told that they can't get nothing else," he said. "The words are not hospitable, if I may say so." Mr. Lacey pointed out that in the long run the plain dealer won. That is, if his quality was equal to his candour. Mr. Duckie, however, was a very old dog to learn such unwonted tricks. "But what about the people who want roast beef?" he asked at length. "They must go elsewhere," said Mr. Lacey. "We have nothing for them." "Yes," said Mr. Duckie, "but roast beef's such a popular dish." "It can't be helped," said Mr. Lacey. "We must specialize." "I see that," said Mr. Duckie, "but wouldn't it be better to specialize in beef rather than mutton? Gentlemen are so partial to beef. Hot beef, cabbage, and potatoes, or cold beef and salad." Mr. Lacey pointed out the difference between the two schemes. "If you want beef and vegetables you want an oven and a totally different arrangement of kitchens. The difficulty about potatoes is, they are never hot; cabbage is not always in season; and joints of beef mean a certain amount of waste. Chops and toast can be cooked at the grill, and there is no waste. The place would need plenty of grill accommodation and two or three of the best grillers to be obtained. Also the best chops, butter, and salad oil. Could anything be simpler? The salad oil should come from Italy direct; the house should become famous for it. Tarragon vinegar too--very little dearer than the other and much more memorable." What a wonderful man, I thought, as he went on, kindling as he spoke, and thinking as he spoke, for he is a born improviser; business men in every walk of life ought to pay him ten guineas an hour just to make him talk on their own affairs. But business men have always a horror of men with ideas. Mr. Duckie, I noticed, began to kindle too, but very cautiously. He still had beef on his mind. "Very true," he said; "but what I mean about roast beef is, that gentlemen seem to expect it. When they're in a hurry they always ask if there's any cold beef." Mr. Lacey told him again about the big notice outside the chop-house. No one could come in under false pretences. "But, sir," said Mr. Duckie, "you don't know them. It doesn't matter what you say outside, they'll come in and ask for roast beef. People who're hungry have no reason." "Very well, then, let them ask; they won't get it," said Mr. Lacey. "But it's such a mistake in a restaurant not to have what people want," said Mr. Duckie. Poor Lacey, his quick mind was in despair. I relieved his agony by asking Mr. Wiles how it all struck him.