him that the establishment had certainly no such intention; it
must be a most curious mistake. He picked up the sugar-basin and
looked at it; he picked up the salt-cellar and looked at that, his
face growing more and more bewildered. At last he abruptly
excused himself, and hurrying away, returned in a few seconds with
the proprietor. The proprietor also examined the sugar-basin and
then the salt-cellar; the proprietor also looked bewildered.

Suddenly the waiter seemed to grow inarticulate with a rush of
words.

"I zink," he stuttered eagerly, "I zink it is those two
clergy-men."

"What two clergymen?"

"The two clergymen," said the waiter, "that threw soup at the
wall."

"Threw soup at the wall?" repeated Valentin, feeling sure this
must be some singular Italian metaphor.

"Yes, yes," said the attendant excitedly, and pointed at the
dark splash on the white paper; "threw it over there on the wall."

Valentin looked his query at the proprietor, who came to his
rescue with fuller reports.

"Yes, sir," he said, "it's quite true, though I don't suppose
it has anything to do with the sugar and salt. Two clergymen came