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great deal higher than I had anticipated. But she reassured me.
"I never eat anything for luncheon," she said. "I never eat more
than one thing. I think people eat too much nowadays. A little fish
perhaps I wonder if they have any salmon.”
Well, it was early in the year for the salmon and it was not on the
menu, but I asked the waiter if there was any.
"Yes, a beautiful salmon has just come in."
I ordered it for my guest. The waiter asked if she would have
something while it was being cooked.
"No,” she answered, "I never eat more than one thing, unless you
have a little caviare. I never mind caviare.”
My heart sank a little. I knew that caviare was expensive and I
could not afford it, but I could not tell her that. I told the waiter to bring
caviare. For myself I chose the cheapest dish on the menu and it was a
mutton chop.
"I think you're unwise to eat meat,” she said, "I don't know how
you can work after eating heavy things like chops. I never overload my
stomach.”
Then came the question of drink.
"I never drink anything for luncheon,” she said.
”Neither do I," I answered quickly.
”Except white wine,” she went on, ”The French wines are so
light.”
”What would you like?” I asked her.
She gave me a bright smile showing her white teeth.
”My doctor won't let me drink anything but champagne.”
I think I turned pale. But I ordered half a bottle of champagne. I
mentioned casually that my doctor had absolutely forbidden me to drink
champagne.
”What are you going to drink, then?”
”Water.”
She ate the caviare and ate the salmon. She talked of art and
literature and music. But I wondered what the bill would come to. When
my mutton chop arrived she took me quite seriously to task.
"I see you have a habit of eating a heavy luncheon. I'm sure it's a
mistake. Why don't you follow my example and just eat one thing? I'm
sure you'd feel much better then.”
"I am only going to eat one thing,” I said as the waiter came again
with the menu.
She waved him aside with an airy gesture.
"No, no,I never eat anything for luncheon. Just a bite. I couldn't

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