As the lady was leaving, I said, “I have an appointment with Lord W. Paulet at eleven, and one with Dr. Cumming at half-past--therefore I will afterwards do myself the honour of fetching you, Mademoiselle.” “That will be the best plan; and probably his lordship will come with us.” With this the lady withdrew. Dr. Macgregor and myself next went to the purveyor’s department, to see Mr. Tucker, whom I found to be an old London friend of mine, of ten years’ standing. “You are about the last person, friend Soyer,” said Mr. Tucker, “whom I should have expected to see here.” “I am indeed in luck, as I hear you are the gentleman from whom I shall probably require the most assistance.” “Anything you may require, M. Soyer, I have orders to let you have; and you may rest assured that Mr. Milton and myself will assist you to the utmost of our power. There is another person here who knows you--Mr. Bailey, the storekeeper.” “These are indeed good tidings. To-morrow, Mr. Tucker, I shall be here early, to see how they manage the cooking. Perhaps you will be kind enough to allow some of your men to show me the various store-rooms and the fresh provisions.” “I will make that all right, you may depend upon it.” As my house was not quite ready I crossed over to Pera, and in the evening went to the English Embassy, to settle some business with Signor Roco Vido, and to ascertain whether Lady Stratford had fixed the day for our visit to the hospital at Kululee. This was to be my last night in Pera, as my house at Scutari was to be ready the following day. CHAPTER X. A TOUR ROUND THE KITCHENS. Inspection of stores--Methods pursued--Interview with Lord W. Paulet--Scene in a kitchen--Terrible confusion--Only one plate--Underdone and overdone--Receipt for nourishing fare--Mr. Milton--Cordial reception--Plans for a better system--Dr. Taylor--Conversation upon cookery--Importance of culinary science in the medical department--A pleasant night--Value of a greatcoat--Operations commenced--Question of copper vessels--Curious method of marking the lots--A decent trick--Wilful waste--Experiments upon the extra diets--My first-class interpreter.