“You’re English, aren’t you? I noticed you come in. My name’s Harry Chester."
Stephen turned his head and discovered a good-looking young man of about his own age stniling down at him.
"I’ll wait for you downstairs," Chester called out as the crowd carried him away.
Outside Chester offered his hand.
“I hope you don’t mind my speaking to you.”
Stephen, who felt lonely in Paris, was glad to find a fri end. When Stephen had introduced himself Chester paused for a moment, then exclaimed:
“How about lunching with me?”
They started off together along the street.
The restaurant they went to was quite near, a narrow, low-ceilinged room, opening into a dark little kitchen. Alrea dy the place was crowded, mainly by students, but Chester led the way through to a little yard and, calmly removing the card marked ‘Reserved’ from a table at the far end, in vited Stephen to be seated.'
Immediately a stout, red-faced woman in black ran out of the kitchen in protest.
“No, no, Harry ... this place is reserved for Monsieur Lambert.”1
“Do not get excited, Madame Chobert,” Chester smiled. “You know Monsieur Lambert is my good friend. Besides, he is always late.”
Madame Chobert was not pleased; she tried to argue, but in the end Harry Chester’s pleasant manner was too much for her. She stopped arguing and offered the menu-card for their inspection.
At Chester’s suggestion they ordered tomato soup, steak and cheese. Beer was already on the table.
"Strange, isn’t it,” Chester said, “how you can always tell a University man. Philip Lambert is one too. After Har row” — he shot a quick glance at Stephen — “I should have gone to Cambridge2 myself... if I hadn’t given it up for art.” He went on to say,3 with a smile, that his father had been a well-known tea-planter in Ceylon. His mother, now a wi dow, lived in England and was quite rich. Naturally she spoiled him by giving him too much money. He had been in Paris eighteen months.
“It’s a lot of fun,” he said finally.
230
1
Monsieur Lambert (ma'sja: laem'ber) — Madame Chobert pronoun ces the name in the French manner.
2
3
