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Nicolas Angelesco, most famous of all the _maîtres d'hôtels_ in Europe, established now for the past twenty years in the one remaining restaurant which still entitles Paris to consider herself the Mecca of the gourmet, came swift-footed and eager along the thickly carpeted way from the violet shadows which hung round the lower end of the _Café de France._ His manner towards the two clients who had just entered was perfection. There was surprise in his strong but pallid face, there was joy in his eyes, there was welcome in his broad smile. A few feet away he paused to bow, almost as though to Royalty. Then he came forward, and the few words he spoke seemed to come from his heart. Any other form of salute--a proffered hand, for instance--would have been a _gaucherie_.
"_Monsieur le Général!_" he exclaimed. "This is a joyful occasion.