Карлик-ніс

           ’"

           "Bymyhonourasacook,youmusthavelearntyourtradefromamagician,"saidtheheadcook,"Youhavehitupontherightingredients,andihcmintisanadditionIneverthoughtof,butwhichwillcertainlyaddtotheflavourofthedish."

           "Well,"saidthesteward,"Iwouldnothavebelieveditpossible;butbyallmeanslethimhavethethingsheasksfor,andseehowhewillmanagetopreparethebreakfast."

           Asitwasfoundthatthedwarfcouldnotreachuptothetable,aslabofmarblewaslaidacrosstwochairs,andallthethingsheaskedforweresetuponit.Steward,headcookandalltherestoftheservantsstoodaroundandwatchedinamazementtheclever,cleanlyandbriskmannerinwhichhepreparedthefood.Whenhehadmixedeverything,heorderedthepotstobeplaceduponthefireandallowedtoboiluntilhesaidtheyweretobetakenoff.Thenhebegantocount"One,two,three,"andsoonrightuptofivehundred,andthenhecried,"Stop!offwiththepots!"

           Theywereimmediatelytakenoffthefire,andthedwarfbeggedtheheadcooktotastethecontents.Agoldenspoonwasbroughtandtheheadcookapproachedthestove,liftedthelidofoneofthepots,helpedhimselftoaspoonfulofsoup,then,closinghiseyes,smackedhislipswithpleasureandenjoyment.

           "Delicious,"hemurmured,"bytheDuke’shead,itisdelicious.Steward,willyounottasteit?"TheStewardtastedbothsoupandpatties,andthenstrokedhiswaistcoatgentlywithdelight.