I ordered it for my guest.The waiter asked her if she would have something while it was being cooked.
Yes, a beautiful salmon had just come in, it was the first they had had. Well, it was early in the year for salmon and it was not on the bill of fare, but I asked the waiter if there was, any. I think people eat far too much nowadays. “Oh, don’t say that!” I answered generously. “I never eat anything for luncheon”, she said. I was startled when the bill of fare was brought, for, the prices were a great deal higher than I had anticipated. She was ‘ talkative, but since she seemed inclined to talk about me I was prepared to be an attentive listener. She was in fact a woman of forty (a charming age, but not one that excites a sudden and devastating passion at first sight), and she gave me the impression of having more teeth, white and large and even, than were necessary for any practical purpose. She was not so young as I expected and in appearance imposing rather than attractive. I answered that I would meet my friend-by correspondence-at Foyot’s on Thursday at half-past twelve. If I cut out coffee for the next two weeks I could manage well enough. (Few men, I may add, learn this until theyare too old to make it of any consequence to a woman what they say.) I had eighty francs (gold francs) to last me the rest of the month and a modest luncheon should not cost more than fifteen. But I was flattered and I was too young to have learned to say no to a woman.
Somerset maugham short stories god free#
I answered, thanking her, and presently I received from her another letter saying she was passing through Paris and would like to have a chat with me but her time was limited and the only free moment she had was on the following Thursday she was spending the morning at the Luxembourg and would I give her a little luncheon at Foyot’s afterwards? Foyot’s is a restaurant at which the French senators eat and it was so far beyond my means that I had never even thought of going there. She had read a book of mine and had written to me about it. I had a tiny apartment in the Latin Quarter overlooking a cemetery and I was earning barely enough money to keep body and soul together. It was twenty years ago and I was living in Paris. Do you remember the first time I saw you? You asked me to luncheon.” Did I remember? How time does fly! We’re none of us getting any younger.
“Well, its many years since we first met. It was long since I had last seen her and if someone had not mentioned her name, I hardly think I would have recognized her. I caught sight of her at the play and in answer to her beckoning I went over during the interval and sat down beside her. What may happen when you can’t say “no” to someone.