With
these experiences there came the usual blooming and expanding--all
the earlier life for gotten, really ignored. Soon the food of the
country became unbearable. Even the canvasbacks must feed on a
certain kind of wild celery; the oysters be dredged from a
particular cove, and the terrapin drawn from their beds with the
Hodges' coat of arms cut in their backs before they would be
allowed a place on the ex-clerk's table.
It is no wonder, then, that everybody listened when the
distinguished epicure launched out on the proper way to both
acquire and serve so rare and toothsome a morsel as a truffle.
"Mine come by every steamer," Hodges asserted in a positive tone--
not to anybody in particular, but with a sweep of the table to
attract enough listeners to make it worthwhile for him to proceed.
"My man is aboard before the gang-plank is secure--gets my package
from the chief steward and is at my house with the truffles within
an hour. Then I at once take proper care of them. That is why my
truffles have that peculiar flavor you spoke of, Mr.
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