"'Gentlemen,' said the Viscount, 'it is a trout from Lake Geneva. I saw it this morning while I was breakfasting; it was still alive; it was brought from Geneva to Paris in the waters of the lake. I can recommend this fish to you--it is delicious.' "Five minutes later only the bones remained. "'The pheasant, waiter!' said the Viscount. "A truffled pheasant was brought on. "'Another bottle of Bordeaux of the same growth.' "The second bottle was brought. "In ten minutes the pheasant was disposed of. "'Monsieur,' said the waiter, 'I think you have made a mistake in calling for the truffled pheasant before the salmis of ortolans.' "'Ah! that is so. Fortunately it is not stated in what order the ortolans are to be eaten; otherwise I should have lost. The salmis of ortolans, waiter!' "The salmis of ortolans was brought on. "There were twelve ortolans--twelve mouthfuls for the Viscount. "'Gentlemen,' said the Viscount, 'my bill of fare is very simple. Now for some asparagus, green peas, a banana, and strawberries. As for wine, a half-bottle of Constance and a half-bottle of sherry that has made the voyage to India. Then, of course, some coffee and liqueurs.' "Everything appeared in its turn--vegetables and fruit were conscientiously eaten, and the wines and liqueurs were drunk to the last drop. "The Viscount was an hour and fourteen minutes in dining. "'Gentlemen,' said he, 'has everything gone right?' "The judges acquiesced. "'Waiter, the carte!' "At this epoch the term _addition_ was not used. "The Viscount ran his eye over the total, and passed the carte to the judges. "This was the carte: _fr._ _c._ Ostende oysters, 24 dozen 30 " Soup of swallows' nests 150 " Beefsteak and potatoes 2 " Trout from Lake Geneva 40 " Truffled pheasant 40 " Salmis of ortolans 50 " Asparagus 15 " Bananas 24 " Strawberries 20 " Green peas 12 " _Wines._ Johannisberg, one bottle 24 " Bordeaux, _grand crû_, two bottles 50 " Constance, a half-bottle 40 " Sherry, _retour de l'Inde_, a half-bottle 50 " Coffee, liqueurs 1 50 ______ Total 548 50 "The sum total was verified and the carte was taken to the adversary of the Viscount, who was dining in an adjoining room.