There was nothing brilliant or showy in this stall; only simple wooden shelves filled with dusty bottles and above each shelf a label in red letters on a black ground, which made the brief and significant announcement: * * * * * "_France._--Chambertin (comet); Clos-Vougeat, 1815; Volney (comet); Nuits, 1820; Pomard, 1834; Châblis, 1834; Pouilly (comet); Château Margot, 1818; Haut-Brion, 1820; Château Lafitte, 1834; Sauterne, 1811; Grave (comet); Roussillon, 1800; Tavel, 1802; Cahors, 1793; Lunel, 1814; Frontignan (comet); Rivesaltes, 1831; Foamy Ai, 1820; Ai rose, 1831; Dry Sillery (comet); Eau de vie de Cognac, 1757; Anisette de Bordeaux, 1804; Ratafia de Louvres, 1807. "_Germany._--Johannisberg, 1779; Rudesteimer, 1747; Hocheimer, 1760; Tokai, 1797; Vermouth, 1801; Vin de Hongrie, 1783; Kirchenwasser of the Black Forest, 1801. "_Holland._--Anisette, 1821; Curacao red, 1805; White Curacao, 1820; Genievre, 1799. "_Italy._--Lacryma Christi, 1803; Imola, 1819. "_Greece._--Chypre, 1801; Samos, 1813. "_Ionian Islands._--Marasquin de Zara. "_Spain._--Val de Penas, 1812; Xeres dry, 1809; Sweet Xeres, 1810; Escatelle, 1824; Tintilla de Rota, 1823; Malaga, 1799. "_Portugal._--Po, 1778. "_Island of Madeira._--Madeira, 1810; having made three voyages from the Indies. "_Cape of Good Hope._--Red and white and pale wines, 1826." * * * * * While Dom Diégo was looking on with profound interest, Doctor Gasterini said to his nephew: "My boy, do you recollect the price at which some celebrated wine-cellars have been sold?" "Yes, dear uncle," replied Michel, "the Duke of Sussex owned a wine-cellar which was sold for two hundred and eighty thousand francs; Lafitte's wine-cellar sold in Paris for nearly one hundred thousand francs; the one belonging to Lagillière, also in Paris, was sold for sixty thousand francs." "Well, well, Dom Diégo," said Doctor Gasterini to his guest, "what do you think of it? Do you believe all this to be an abomination, as that wag Abbé Ledoux, who is observing us now with such a deceitful countenance, declares? Do you think the passion, which promotes an industry of such importance, deserves to be anathematised only? Think of the expenditure of labour in their transport and preservation that these wine-cellars must have cost. How many people have lived on the money they represent?" "I think," said the canon, "that I was blind and stupid never to have comprehended, until now, the immense social, political, and industrial influence I have wielded by eating and drinking the choicest viands and wines. I think now that the consciousness of accomplishing a mission to the world in giving myself up to unbridled gluttony, will be a delicious aperient for my appetite,--a consciousness which I owe to you, and to you only, doctor. Oh, noble thinker! Oh, grand philosophy!" "This is the science of gastronomy carried to insanity," said Abbé Ledoux. "It is a new paganism."