Sketchbook's Reviews > The Real Life of Sebastian Knight

An interesting conundrum that reminds me of a dinner party at Le Grand Rire in midtown NYC, herewith a fable: in a private room hostess Flossie Fidget seated me next to Commodore Sackbut, said the placard, whom I've longed to meet. Over a fricasse of snails, fed, or rather purged with milk, and fritters of pompions and lovage, we got sauced discussing the pleasures of vice over virtue, and pain over politesse.-- (Topics in his book of collected essays). We also paid our respects to several bottles of champagne, which added to the gummy conviviality of our behaviour. At end of this marvelous party, I thanked Flossie Fidget for my placement. Oh, she said, I'm so sorry the Commodore couldn't come, but I'm glad your attention was engaged by his cousin, though I don't know his name. Who the devil was I amusing with conversation, I wondered. As I left Le Grand Rire, (first time there), the maitre'd tapped my shoulder and said knowingly, "Good to see you, Commodore Sackbut, soon again, I trust."