“It was past one o'clock when we got out supper. And our appetites lost nothing by the prospect of hardships which we treated rather lightly, since we entirely failed to appreciate their seriousness. Jack's visions of storming ramparts at the point of the bayonet merely added flavour to his amazing collation of cold beef, ham, brawn, cold fowl, and peaches and cream, with which he insisted on winding-up at nearly two in the morning. He would have shouted with laughter had you told him that in less than three weeks he would be dashing through the enemy's lines with despatches on a red-hot motor-cycle. And Tommy--poor old Tommy--well, I fancy he would have been just as cheerful, dear old chap, had he known the fate that was in store. For to him was to fall the lot which, of all others, everyone--rich and poor alike--understands. There is no need for me to repeat the story. Even in the rush of a war which has already brought forward some thousands of heroes, the reader will remember the glorious exploit of Corporal Thomas Evans, in which he won the D.C.M., and also, unfortunately, gave his life for his country. It is sufficient to say that three men in particular will ever cherish his memory as that of a loyal friend, a cheery comrade, a clean, honest, straightforward Englishman through and through.”
A cook of roughly the same moment, setting down the same dish.
2. A Capon and White Broth. 3. A boiled Gurnet. 4. A Dish of boiled Ducks or Rabbits. 5. A rosted Tongue and Udder. 6. A made Dish in Puff-Paste. 7. A Shoulder of Mutton with Oysters. 8. A Chine of Beef. 9. A Dish of Scotch Collops of Veal. 10. Two Geese in a Dish. 11. An Olive Pie. 12. A Pig. 13. A Loin of Veal. 14. A Lark Pie. 15. A Venison Pasty. 16. A Dish of Capons, two in a Dish or three. 17. A Dish of Set Custards.
Sources: The passage is from William Le Queux, The Mystery of the Green Ray, free to read in full at Project Gutenberg. The recipe is from Woolley, The Queen-like Closet or Rich Cabinet of 1670, also free in full. Both are in the public domain in the United States. The binding above is ours — moss cloth, boar stamp.