‘Yes that’ll do to go on with, anyway.’
‘But you will not have anything else?’
‘Oh, well. Bring us some bread, of course. And butter.’
‘But no soup to start with?’
‘No. No soup.’
‘Nor any fish? Only the cold beef?’
‘Do we want any fish, Rosemary? I don’t think we do. No. No fish.’
‘Nor any sweet to follow? Only the cold beef?’
Gordon had difficulty in controlling his features. He thought he had never hated anyone so much as he hated this waiter.
‘We’ll tell you afterwards if we want anything else,’ he said. ‘And you will drink?’
Gordon had meant to ask for beer, but he hadn’t the courage now. He had got to win back his prestige after this affair of the cold beef.
‘Bring me the wine list,’ he said flatly.
Another flyblown list was produced. All the wines looked impossibly expens
