'Madame, apres trots nun's d'insomnie les plumes vent placees.' And
every one knows the story of Vatel's suicide because the fish
failed to arrive. No Englishman would be capable of flights like
these."

"Really, this indictment of English cookery makes me a little
nervous," said Lady Considine "I have promised to join in a driving
tour through the southern counties. I shudder to think of the
dinners I shall have to eat at the commercial hotels and posting-
houses on our route."

"English country inns are not what they ought to be, but now and
then you come across one which is very good indeed, as good, if not
better, than anything you could find in any other country; but I
fear I must admit that, charges considered, the balance is
against us," said Sir John.

"When you start you ought to secure Sir John's services as courier,
Lady Considine," said the Marchesa. "I once had the pleasure of
driving for a week through the Apennines in a party under his
guidance, and I can assure you we found him quite honest and
obliging."

"Ah, Marchesa, I was thinking of that happy time this very
morning," said Sir John. "Of Arezzo, where we were kept for three
days by rain, which I believe is falling there still. Of Cortona,
with that wonderful little restaurant on the edge of the cliff,
whence you see Thrasumene lying like a silver mirror in the plain
below. Of Perugia, the august, of Gubbio, Citta di Castello, Borgo
San Sepolcro, Urbino, and divers others. If you go for a drive in