Evening star., 1937-06-06


knew exactly how to greet every old
client. When he saw Middleton step
from the cab, as big as horse and as
light as a stag he drew himself up in half
laughing salute.
ITS long time, Mr. Middleton" he
began.
Its the last time, Tom" said Middleton.
Not the last time, sir, urged Tom, open
ing the door with an anxious face.
Unless you can change my luck for me,
said Middleton. He went down the inside
steps and gave his top hat to the checkroom
girl. The summer night was too warm for
even topooat When you give that hat back
to ne, Mary" he said. leave some luck in
side it, will you?"
"IIl fill it fullr' laughed Mary. Its six
months since you were here, and you still re-
member names?"
my DEAR there's only one Mary in my
life" he answered, and went with his smile
into the dining room.
Francois is good place. One may eat
there as we'll as in Paris and pay five times as
much. 1t has an air of subdued gliding and
guilty comfort, and every corner is poured
full of whispering discretion. The mirrors give
surprising images of oneself in royal vistas,
and the carpet makes one walk through a
soundless dream. Large parties rarely 60 to
Francois but many Wall Street ship of state
has been foated there in glasses of wine and
many a romance has borrowed the listening
quiet of Francois for its happiest hours.
The proprietor came with eager haste. He
looked like rat, though much too plump
in every part except the face.
"Ah, Mr.. Middleton. what a pleasure"
said FRANCOIS. 1T is so long. But have in
stinct, monsieur, and that instinct made me
keep your table for you this evening. How is
your father, monsieur"
Hes dead,' said Middleton.
"Ah, God have pity, how we grow old!'
said Francois. is he gone from us? :.
have some special raspberries today, and
red Rhone wine that is perfect with them.
Shall mash them with the sugar now, and let
them soak in the wine little?"
Perhaps" said Middleton.
And how many in your party, sir?"
"One," said Middleton. i've been feeding
people for years, francois, and it occurred to
me that l might ask one John Middleton to
have my last dinner with me-"
"Ah, monsieur! Your last?"
1T will be lunch and supper never dinner,
after this said Middleton. you see before
you young lawyer too brilliant to find work
in Manhattan Jealousy keeps him out, Fran
co.'s"
perhaps they think of you in racing air
planes, monsieur, or shooting lions in the
veldt and cannot imagine you behind law
yer's desk
AT any rate FRANCOIS, here am with my
last forty dollars and John Middleton don't
want to think. l want to eat You do the
thinking for me and let me enjoy one last
perfect meal"
FRANCOIS clicked his heels and bowed. 1T
shall be done, monsieur"
There were not many people in the restau-
rant, for the theatregoers already had left,
but by peculiar trick of acoustics Middleton
could hear nearly every word spoken at a
table of three men some distance from him.
The three we're not happy. Often they leaned
their heads together, snarling. Then some
growing oath came clearly to Middleton. He
had wished to change to more quiet spot
but he was now lost in contemplation over a
glass of iced French vermouth with squeeze
of lemon rind to give it bouquet. The taste