|      "Indeed, sir?  That was before my time here, sir.  Before our people's time here, sir.  The George was in other hands at that time, sir."      "I believe so."      "But I would hold a pretty wager, sir, that a House like Tellson and Company was flourishing, a matter of fifty, not to speak of fifteen years ago?"      "You might treble that, and say a hundred and fifty, yet not be far from the truth."      "Indeed, sir!" |      Rounding his mouth and both his eyes, as he stepped backward from the table, the waiter shifted his napkin from his right arm to his left, dropped into a comfortable attitude, and stood surveying the guest while he ate and drank, as from an observatory or watchtower. According to the immemorial usage of waiters in all ages. |