Page 159 - 192_

seated near him had begun eating, a precaution against others liking the
same idea.
Now the line of waiters at the serving counter became shorter. To
most guests in the Grand Ballroom the main course had been served.
Already busboys were appearing with discarded dishes. There was a
sense that the crisis passed. Andre Lemueux, left his place among the
servers, then glanced questioningly at the pastry chef.
The latter, a matchstick of a man, who looked as if he seldom
sampled his own confections, made a circle with thumb and forefinger.
”Everything goes well, Chef.”
Andre Lemieux, smiling, came to Peter. ”Monsieur, I think we've
done it.”
”I'm impressed.”
”What you have seen was good. But it is only one part of the
work, We do not look so well everywhere. Excuse me, monsieur.” The
young Frenchman moved away.
The dessert was ”chestnut bomb, cherry in flames.” It would be
served with ceremony, the ballroom lights dimmed, the flaming trays
held high.
Now, waiters were lining up before the service doors. The pastry
chef and helpers were checking arrangements of the trays. When touched
off, a central dish on each would spring to flame. Two cooks stood by
with lighted candles.
Andre Lemieux inspected the line.
At the entry to the Grand Ballroom, the head waiter, an arm
raised, watched the sous-chef's face.
As Andre Lemieux nodded, the head waiter's arm moved down.
The cooks with candles ran down the line of trays, igniting them.
The double service doors were opened. Outside an electrician dimmed
the lights. The music of an orchestra stopped. Guests in the great hall
became silent.
Suddenly, beyond the diners, a spotlight sprang on to the door.
There was a second's silence, then orchestra and organ began playing
together. The procession of waiters, with flaming trays, marched out.
Peter McDermott moved into the Grand Ballroom for a better
view. He could see the great room tightly packed with the unexpected
crowd of diners.
From the kitchen, waiter after waiter, in trim blue uniform,
marched out in step. Everybody was impressed. The diners began to
applaud. No one outside the kitchen could know that minutes earlier a
crisis had been fought and overcome...

159