Page:The Strand Magazine (Volume 4).djvu/61

 Two dogs are from the brush of George Earle.

Mrs. Sala's study adjoins this room. On the mantelpiece is a small bust of Henry Irving as Hamlet, and near the window is a safe of strong proportions. On a silver shield is the following inscription: "George Augustus Sala, from Henry Irving, 1881. Safe Bind—Safe Find." Mr. Irving was once dining with Mr. Sala, when the latter brought out his common-place book, which was commenced in 1829, and is full of notes of delightful interest.

"Aren't you afraid of losing this?" the actor asked. "This wants taking into custody."

A few days afterwards the safe came.

On my way to the drawing-room and study—which is down a passage full of pictures and crowded with nick-nacks—I look in at the library, with its highly decorative stained glass windows. The famous cookery library is in a corner of the bedroom. It comprises over 300 volumes, dating from 1578 to the present day, of every country and in every language. Here is a cookery book in Greek, and a first edition of "Mrs. Glasse," worth £100. Even to-day dishes are prepared at the Victoria-street flat from an old cookery volume of Henry V.'s reign. It contains a receipt for a delicious oyster pattie. These old-time books are useful when you know how to leave out the peacocks' tongues and swans' livers from Elizabethan dishes.

The drawing-room is now reached. Drawing back the curtains, one enters Mr. Sala's