Memnon busied himself about the window and in a moment, gazing through
it, I had the pleasure of seeing my two boys eating their supper and
challenging each other to mortal combat over a delinquent strawberry
resting upon the tablecloth.
"Give me a little politics, Memnon," said I, as the elder boy thrashed
the younger, not getting the strawberry, however, which in a quick
moment, between blows, the younger managed to swallow. "They seem to
be about as usual at home."
And I was immediately made aware of the intentions of the
administration at Washington merely by looking through a window. There
were the President and his cabinet and--some others who assist in
making up the mind of the statesman.
"Now a dash of crime," said I.
"High or low?" asked Memnon, fingering the push-button alongside of
the window.
"The highest you've got," said I.
I shall not describe what I saw. It was not very horrible. It was
rather discouraging. It dealt wholly with the errors of what is known
as Society. It showed the mistakes of persons for whom I had acquired
a feeling of awe. It showed so much that I summoned Memnon to shut the
glass off. I was really afraid somebody else might see. And I did not
wish to lose my respect for people who were leaders in the highest
walks of social life. Still, a great many things that have happened
since in high life have not been wholly surprising to me. I have
furthermore so ordered my own goings and comings since that time that
I have no fear of what the Peeping Toms of Olympus may see. If mankind
could only be made to understand that this window of Olympus opens out
upon every act of their lives, there might be radical reforms in some
quarters where it would do a deal of good, although to the general
public there seems to be no need for it.
At this point a waiter put a small wafer about as large as a penny
upon the table.
"H'm--what's that, Memnon?" I asked.
"Essence of melon," said he.
"Good, is it?" I queried.
"You might taste it and see, sir," he said, with a smile. "It is one
of a lot especially prepared for Jupiter."
I put the thing in my mouth, and oh, the sensation that followed! I
have eaten melons, and I have dreamed melons, but never in either
experience was there to be found such an ecstasy of taste as I now
got.
"Another, Memnon--another!" I cried.
"If you wish, sir," said he. "But very imprudent, sir. That wafer was
constructed from six hundred of the choicest--"
"Quite right," said I, realizing the situation; "quite right. Six
hundred melons _are_ enough for any man. What do you propose to give
me now?"
"_Oeufs Midas_," said Memnon.
"Sounds rather rich," I observed.
"It would cost you 4,650,000 francs for a half portion at a Paris
cafe, if you could get it there--which you can't."
"And what, Memnon," said I, "is the peculiarity of eggs _Midas_?"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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