Part 15 (1/2)
”I should think not,” I replied.
”Well, then, I wish to say aloud that this old chap's a superb old gent.
What say you, Major? Don't you wish we had him on the lines?”
”I wish his kitchen were a little nearer the lines,” replied the other, with a wink.
”Senor Coronel, permit me--”
”What is it, my dear Don?” inquired the major.
”_Pasteles de Moctezuma_.”
”Oh, certainly. I say, lads, I don't know what the plague I'm eating-- it's not bad to take, though.”
”Senor Coronel, allow me to help you to a _guana_ steak.”
”A guana steak!” echoed the major, in some surprise.
”_Si, Senor_,” replied Don Cosme, holding the steak on his fork.
”A guana steak! Do you think, lads, he means the ugly things we saw at Lobos.”
”To be sure--why not?”
”Then, by Jove, I'm through! I can't go lizards. Thank you, my dear Don Cosme; I believe I have dined.”
”Try this; it is very tender, I a.s.sure you,” insisted Don Cosme.
”Come, try it, Major, and report,” cried Clayey.
”Good--you're like the apothecary that poisoned his dog to try the effect of his nostrums. Well,”--with an oath--”here goes! It can't be very bad, seeing how our friend gets it down. Delicious, by Jupiter!
tender as chicken--good, good!”--and amidst sundry similar e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.i.o.ns the major ate his first guana steak.
”Gentlemen, here is an ortolan pie. I can recommend it--the birds are in season.”
”Reed-birds, by Jove!” said the major, recognising his favourite dish.
An incredible number of these creatures disappeared in an incredibly short time.
The dinner dishes were at length removed, and dessert followed: cakes and creams, and jellies of various kinds, and blancmange, and a profusion of the most luxurious fruits. The golden orange, the ripe pine, the pale-green lime, the juicy grape, the custard-like cherimolla, the zapote, the granadilla, the pitahaya, the tuna, the mamay; with dates, figs, almonds, plantains, bananas, and a dozen other species of fruits, piled upon salvers of silver, were set before us: in fact, every product of the tropical clime that could excite a new nerve of the sense of taste. We were fairly astonished at the profusion of luxuries that came from no one knew where.
”Come, gentlemen, try a gla.s.s of curacoa. Senor Coronel, allow me the pleasure.”
”Sir, your very good health.”
”Senor Coronel, would you prefer a gla.s.s of Majorca?”
”Thank you.”