"Follies of a Flâneur"

"Shall we retire to the living room?" said Mrs. Lovechild. "Unless of course you would like another piece of cake, Mr. Plumbtree?"Harry had already had two slices of the chocolate cake, and he could easily have devoured a third, but, despite his gluttony, he said no thank you.Ralston was looking at a pocket watch on a chain."Good, we can still catch the beginning of The Waldo McGee & Mickey Pumpernickel Show."The Negro maid Matilda had appeared, and with her another old woman who was addressed as "Cookie"."Matilda," said Mrs. Lovechild, "you and Cookie can clear the table now. We're going to go in and watch the television.""Would you like some popcorn, Mrs. Lovechild?" said the woman called Cookie."That would be lovely, Cookie, thank you," said Mrs. Lovechild."And don't stint on the butter, Cookie," said Ralston."Oh, Mr. Ralston, sure you'll die of a massive fatal heart attack if you don't watch all that butter you consume night and day.""And if I do die of a heart attack, Cookie,"…