Richard Forrest, Bachelor — page 97: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

88 MAKING A PROMISE. The rest of the suite, bedroom, dining-room, and library, was finished in hard wood and tastefully decorated. Of these, the last mentioned, was perhaps the most cozy, with its stained glass window and gayly bound volumes. Just now, however, the place was topsy-turvy. Soiled plates, napkins, and wine bottles were anywhere and every- where. ‘There was an orange under a chair, and a banana skin, browned by the close atmosphe:e, lay on the keys of the piano. A deck of cards, with the jolly ‘‘jack’’ faced, smiled from the empty grate, where it had been thrown. ‘How much stuff was disposed of, Cezesar?’’ asked Mr. Forrest, throwing open a window to freshen the air inside. ‘‘Sah?’’ returned the negro, quickly. ‘‘T mean, was there much eaten and drank,’’ explained his master. Ceesar, who was clearing off the table, paused to reflect. ‘Well, sah, dey was six bottles of champagne to start with,’’ he began, slowly. ‘‘Not so bad among so many men,’’ muttered Dick. ‘‘An’ fo’ col’ chickens,’’ continued Ceesar, dropping the table-cloth to count on his fingers. ‘‘Four?’’ ejaculated Mr. Forrest, ‘‘it seems incredible. ”’ ——‘‘two bowls of lobster salad; t’ree Rhine wines——’’ “There, that will do,’’ said Dick, ‘‘you’ve told me enough to disgust me now.’’ ‘and one bottle of whisky,’’ finished Ceesar. ‘“What tanks men are!’’ soliloquized Dick. ‘‘Ars you sure every one is gone, Ceesar?’’ “Yes, sah. Mr. Clifford he was restin’ on aa lounge in de library, but I got him ou: at last. He did not care to go, fust off, but I kin’ coax him like, and he went, too.”’ ‘‘And to think,’’ mused Dick, as the negro shuffled off COMIC DOOMS (60 4 ‘