Карлик-ніс

           "Headcook,"saidhe,"youareanexperiencedandfirst-ratecook,butneverhaveyoumadesuchsouporsuchpatties."

           Theheadcooktastedthefoodagain,thenhereverentlyshookthedwarfbythehand."Littleone,"saidhe,"youareamasterofyourcraft.Thatpinchoftrencher-man’sherbhasgiventhepattiesanextraflavourthatrendersthemquiteperfect."

           AtthismomenttheDuke’sspecialattendantcametosaythathismasterwasreadyforhisbreak-fast,sothefoodwasservedupinsilverdishes.Theheadcook,however,tookthelittlemanintohisroomandwasabouttohaveatalkwithhim,whenamessagecamefromtheDukedesiringhisattendance.Hedressedhimselfinhisbestclothesandhastenedintohismaster’spresence.TheDukewaslookingextremelypleased.Hehadfinishedeverymorselofthefoodsetbeforehimandwaswipinghisbeardastheheadcookentered.

           "Cook,"saidhe,"Ihavealwaysbeenwellsatisfiedwithyourcookingandwiththeworkofthoseunderyou;buttellme,whopreparedmybreakfastthismorning?IdeclareithasneverbeensowellservedsinceIsatuponthethroneofmyfathers.Iwishtoknowthecook’sname,sothatImayrewardhimwithafewducats."

           "Mylord,itisamostwonderfulstory,"answeredtheheadcook,andproceededtotellhismasteraboutthedwarfwhohadarrivedthatmorningandwhohadinsisteduponbeingengagedasacook.TheDukewasmuchsurprised,andsentforJacobandquestionedhimcloseastohisname,wherehecamefrom,andsoon.