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 the habit of having dogs turn up their noses at good steak.

Pierre reached down and licked the meat with his dainty tongue, and then partly closed his lips upon it, but at once dropped the morsel.

Then he retreated a step or two and sat down upon the rug, thumping the floor with the stump tail. His expression was one of apology.

"I am very sorry," he seemed to be saying, "I would eat it to accommodate you if I could, but really it is quite out of the question."

"He must be sick," said the mistress tenderly.

"Sick nothing," snorted the man, "he is an aristocrat. He probably wants porterhouse. Well, he will have to wait a spell."