登陆注册
26300900000051

第51章 A PHILISTINE IN BOHEMIA(2)

The house was dark and the shades were lowered; but Mr. Brunelli touched an electric button by the base- ment door, and they were admitted.

Along a long, dark, narrow hallway they went and then through a shining and spotless kitchen that opened directly upon a back yard.

The walls of houses hemmed three sides of the yard; a high, board fence, surrounded by cats, the other. A wash of clothes was suspended high upon a line stretched from diagonal corners. Those were property clothes, and were never taken in by 'Tonio.

They were there that wits with defective pronuncia- tion might make puns in connection with the ragout.

A dozen and a half little tables set upon the bare ground were crowded with Bohemia-hunters, who flocked there because 'Tonio pretended not to want them and pretended to give them a good dinner.

There was a sprinkling of real Bohemians present who came for a change because they were tired of the real Bohemia, and a smart shower of the men who originate the bright sayings of Congressmen and the little nephew of the well-known general passen- ger agent of the Evansville and Terre Haute Rail- road Company.

Here is a bon mot that was manufactured at 'Tonio's:

"A dinner at 'Tonio's," said a Bohemian, "always amounts to twice the price that is asked for it."

Let us assume that an accommodating voice in- quires:

"How so?"

"The dinner costs you 40 cents; you give 10 cents to the waiter, and it makes you feel like 30 cents."

Most of the diners were confirmed table d'hoters -- gastronomic adventuress, forever seeking the El Do- rado of a good claret, and consistently coming to grief in California.

Mr. Brunelli escorted Katy to a little table em- bowered with shrubbery in tubs, and asked her to excuse him for a while.

Katy sat, enchanted by a scene so brilliant to her.

The grand ladies, in splendid dresses and plumes and sparkling rings; the fine gentlemen who laughed so loudly, the cries of "Garsong! " and "We, mon- seer," and "Hello, Mame! " that distinguish Bo- hemia; the lively chatter, the cigarette smoke, the interchange of bright smiles and eye-glances -- all this display and magnificence overpowered the daugh- ter of Mrs. Dempsey and held her motionless.

Mr. Brunelli stepped into the yard and seemed to spread his smile and bow over the entire company.

And everywhere there was a great clapping of bands and a few cries of "Bravo! " and "'Tonio! 'Tonio!" whatever those words might mean. Ladies waved their napkins at him, gentlemen almost twisted their necks off, trying to catch his nod.

When the ovation was concluded Mr. Brunelli, with a final bow, stepped nimbly into the kitchen and flung off his coat and waistcoat.

"Flaherty, the nimblest "garsong" among the waiters, had been assigned to the special service of Katy. She was a little faint from hunger, for the Irish stew on the Dempsey table had been particu- larly weak that day. Delicious odors from unknown dishes tantalized her. And Flaherty began to bring to her table course after course of ambrosial food that the gods might have pronounced excellent.

But even in the midst of her Lucullian repast Katy laid down her knife and fork. Her heart sank as lead, and a tear fell upon her filet mignon. Her haunting suspicions of the star lodger arose again, fourfold. Thus courted and admired and smiled upon by that fashionable and gracious assembly, what else could Mr. Brunelli be but one of those dazzling titled patricians, glorious of name but shy of rent money, concerning whom experience had made her wise? With a sense of his ineligibility growing within her there was mingled a torturing conviction that his personality was becoming more pleasing to her day by day. And why had he left her to dine alone?

But here he was coming again, now coatless, his snowy shirt-sleeves rolled high above his Jeffries- onian elbows, a white yachting cap perched upon his jetty curls.

"'Tonio! 'Tonio!" shouted many, and "The spaghetti! The spaghetti!" shouted the rest.

Never at 'Tonio's did a waiter dare to serve a dish of spaghetti until 'Tonio came to test it, to prove the sauce and add the needful dash of seasoning that gave it perfection.

From table to table moved 'Tonio, like a prince in his palace, greeting his guests. White, jewelled bands signalled him from every side.

A glass of wine with this one and that, smiles for all, a jest and repartee for any that might challenge -- truly few princes could be so agreeable a host!

And what artist could ask for further appreciation of his handiwork? Katy did not know that the proudest consummation of a New Yorker's ambition is to shake bands with a spaghetti chef or to receive a nod from a Broadway head-waiter.

At last the company thinned, leaving' but a few couples and quartettes lingering over new wine and old stories. And then came Mr. Brunelli to Katy's secluded table, and drew a chair close to hers.

Katy smiled at him dreamily. She was eating the last spoonful of a raspberry roll with Burgundy sauce.

"You have seen!" said Mr. Brunelli, laying one hand upon his collar bone. "I am Antonio Brunelli!

Yes; I am the great 'Tonio! You have not suspect that! I loave you, Katy, and you shall marry with me. Is it not so? Call me 'Antonio,' and say that you will be mine."

Katy's head drooped to the shoulder that was now freed from all suspicion of having received the knightly accolade.

"Oh, Andy," she sighed, "this is great! Sure, I'll marry wid ye. But why didn't ye tell me ye was the cook? I was near turnin' ye down for bein' one of thim foreign counts!"

同类推荐
  • 觞政

    觞政

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • A Letter Concerning Toleration

    A Letter Concerning Toleration

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 无梦园初集

    无梦园初集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 史通

    史通

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • The Story of a Mine

    The Story of a Mine

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 倾世绝恋之凤飞帝王

    倾世绝恋之凤飞帝王

    二十四世纪的血族女王身负异能,却被爱情和亲情所蒙骗。导致他魂飞魄散!她发誓,从今以后,再不会为任何感情所动摇!终于,上天给了它一次机会,让她穿越了。虽然她穿的是一个人人都可以欺负的流家白痴二小姐,但谁都不知,江湖中传闻的那一个墨衣飘绕,墨发荡腰,拥有一双红目的倾世尊者,竟然会是女的,而且还是那个人人憎恶的流家二小姐,十年后,且看她,怎样坐拥三国,成为倾世女帝!
  • 恶灵之源

    恶灵之源

    小月是个平民与贵族的私生女。当母亲突然离奇失踪后祖母却接纳了小月。更是莫名的被牵扯进少女离奇失踪案件,当生命垂危时发现自己拥有能够净化恶灵的力量!隐藏在黑暗之中的恶灵之源又有怎样的阴谋呢?小月的命运又将如何呢?
  • 终极一家之打雷下雨

    终极一家之打雷下雨

    妲泪,妲止偌羽家独生女。从小成绩优异的她发现在怎么做也得不到父母的关注,开始跟一群小混混在一起,小小年纪就开始化妆打扮,但是有钱有势的父母仍旧可以让她读台大。妲泪开始唱歌到成名,这件事情她没有跟任何人说过,因为她不希望再被别人操控关于音乐的生活。夏宇,夏兰荇德家长子。从小父母的目光都在弟弟妹妹身上,他也成为家里面的管家。某天得到一个叫唐禹哲的人的记忆,铁时空横空出世一个叫唐禹哲的歌手。
  • 登真隐诀

    登真隐诀

    一个爹不疼、娘不爱的少年——道冲。一夜之间父母惨遭贼人杀害,道冲也重伤垂死,幸得高人相助,捡回一条小命。从此,道冲踏上一条找寻凶手的道路。而在寻凶的过程中,道冲发现自己的父母竟非亲生父母,而杀害自己养父母的人,竟和自己有着千丝万缕的关系……
  • 柯南之快青永恒

    柯南之快青永恒

    在柯南平次与组织对抗的过程中,基德被误服下APTX4869,随后酷似柯南的孩纸登场惹。已经知道柯南处境的快斗产生了邪恶的想法……带上眼睛,出发,毛利事务侦探所!“咦?柯南你不是去美国了吗?””小兰姐姐,中途停班,我不能去了。“
  • 重生之老婆要炸天

    重生之老婆要炸天

    对于我来说,有你的远方,就是我梦寐以求的天堂1、因为要骗你们入坑,全文虐虐虐,请君入坑2、因为要骗你们入坑,作者的身心,以及作品的纯洁。3、因为要骗你们入坑,所以该作品非常有节操!4、因为要骗你们入坑,所以女主高贵,淑女、男主霸道,英俊、男二····(已抢到女主)5、因为要骗你们入坑,以上都是骗人的···嘿嘿嘿嘿作品甜到不行,节操碎的不行,女主逗比,女汉子、男主懵逼,正太脸、男二·····(已被男主冲进厕所)哈哈哈哈··咳··············哈哈哈哈哈哈哈哈
  • 霸道王子的黑道公主

    霸道王子的黑道公主

    她,有着奇异的发瞳他,有着霸道的家室他步入了她的生活,让她的生活杂乱无章,原先所有的计划全部泡汤。而有因为一个赌局,成为了他的女仆,在这之间,他和她会擦出怎样的火花呢?【越越第一次写~表介意哈=3=】
  • 柯南世界之别离之恋

    柯南世界之别离之恋

    一代杀手之王穿越至柯南世界。身处二次元,究竟何去何从?柯南的轨迹在云修的影响下开始改变。柯南,你可以喜欢小兰,但,请别伤害灰原。“谁敢动你,我就让他身死道消。”“这一次,不在你一个人。”“我会保护你。”喜欢的同学请收藏,一天一更,咱们从原著出发,但是原著不一定完全一样,会改编的。不管最后哀殿下是伤还是殇。在这里,她都会有一个保护神。
  • 盛夏恋语

    盛夏恋语

    夏凝雪和紫依儿从美国转学回国,转到了夏凝雪的双胞胎弟弟夏洛轩就读的贵族学校,认识了一个冰山美男寒沫熙,和一位花花公子冷翼,还有一位可爱女生羽心灵,他们的邂逅会檫出怎样的火花呢?
  • EXO借过梦的啊,它叫岁月

    EXO借过梦的啊,它叫岁月

    借过梦的啊,它叫岁月啊,梦是可以借的啊,why?因为,它叫岁月啊,(PS.由于我是行星饭,so,文章是写EXO12的咯!)