These sentiments having been duly honoured, we turned our attention to
‘Ponichets de Volaille,’ which Verimisti, who had got through a quart
of moselle cup on his own, insisted on eating with a table-spoon.
‘There’ll be quite a clearance next term, I’m afraid,’ remarked Squiff;
‘such a number of the Unregenerate have failed in Law Prelim. or Mods.,
and they’re sure to be sent down.’
‘Yes, I was gone to drive mit a gountry vicar, next week,’ remarked von
Graussman pensively, ‘and, oh! but the dullnesses vos ’orrible. Dere
vos only von publig-house vour miles away, and dat they closes at ten
hours. But,’ he added triumphantly, ‘I vos not a Brotestant, and I do
not rise for der service at eight hours morning.’
‘Well, anyhow, we’ll make things hum in the summer,’ said Freddy;
‘it’ll be my last term, and Squiff’s and Reggie’s and several others,
so we must create an impression, and a good one if possible, before we
leave the ’Varsity.’
‘Don’t try and make an impression on the pavement outside the Royal
Leicester to-night,’ said de Beresford mockingly, ‘it’s asphalt and
very hard. I know,’ he added feelingly, ‘I’ve tried it.’
‘Anyhow, let’s make this a record night,’ said Accrington, who bubbled
with excitement.
This sentiment met with a cordial reception. Verimisti rose carefully
from the table and commenced a long and rambling speech which was ended
by the arrival of what the Pilot somewhat coarsely calls ‘The Settler.’
Its real name is Ponche Romaine, and it acts as an appetiser, enabling
one to begin again hungry on the second part of the dinner. This
proceeded somewhat more rapidly, as we found it was getting late. We
honoured several toasts, including ‘Conspuez les dons’ from Verimisti,
‘Hoch der Kaiser!’ from von Graussman, and ‘The Unregenerate’ from
Freddy, and then rather unsteadily the party made its way to the
cloak-room, and got into its outer garments.
A slight sensation was caused by Squiff kissing the girl who sold
buttonholes in the entrance hall, while Verimisti’s attempt to embrace
the stately official outside caused that personage both surprise and
annoyance.
The arrival of the party at the Leicester was accompanied by much
noise, and loud cheers on the part of several other parties who were
also disembarking. As we went up the steps, somebody clutched my arm,
and turning round I found it was Blandford of Barrabas’.
‘Hullo,’ I said, ‘are you coming in?’
‘That’s the question,’ he replied. It appeared that he had already been
thrown out, but wanted to come in with our party again. ‘If I cram my
hat down on my nose, and button up my coat, I’m sure they’ll pass me; I
only want you to say I belong to you.’
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account