No customers were sent
away because they were unfashionably attired. The only requisite
was money enough to defray their bills. Nevertheless Giacomo
felt a little in awe even of the dirty waiters. His frugal meals
were usually bought at the baker's shop, and eaten standing in
the street. Sitting down at a table, even though it was greasy,
seemed a degree of luxury to which he was not entitled. But Phil
more easily adapted himself to circumstances. He knew that he
had as much right there as any other customer.
Presently a waiter presented himself.
"Have you ordered?" he asked.
"Give me some roast beef," said Phil. "What will you have,
Giacomo?"
"The same as you, Filippo," said Giacomo, in Italian.
"What's that?" asked the waiter, thinking he had named some
dish.
"He will have some roast beef, too. Will you have some coffee,
Giacomo?"
"If you have it," answered the smaller boy.
So Phil gave the double order, and very soon the coffee and meat
were placed before them. I suspect that few of my readers would
have regarded these articles with any relish. One need not be
fastidious to find fault with the dark-hued beverage, which was
only a poor imitation of coffee, and the dark fragments of meat,
which might have been horseflesh so far as appearance went.
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