"No shadow, damme!"

"Did you mean to say-"

"Yes, sir, my soul is - hiccup! - humph! - yes, sir."

"Did you not intend to assert-"

"My soul is - hiccup! - peculiarly qualified for - hiccup! - a-"

"What, sir?"

"Stew."

"Ha!"

"Soufflee."

"Eh!"

"Fricassee."

"Indeed!"

"Ragout and fricandeau - and see here, my good fellow! I'll let you
have it- hiccup! - a bargain." Here the philosopher slapped his Majesty
upon the back.

"Couldn't think of such a thing," said the latter calmly, at the same
time rising from his seat. The metaphysician stared.