Карлик-ніс

           Alldaylonghewasenvelopedinacloudofsteam,outofwhichissuedhisvoicegivingorderstotheothercooksandscullions.Itwouldtaketoolongtorecountallthedeliciousfoodshecooked,sufficeittosaythatforawholefortnighttheDukeandhisguestwereservedastheyhadneverbeenservedbefore,andasmileofenjoymentwasconstantlytobeseenuponthefaceoftheroyalvisitor.

           AttheendofthattimetheDukesentforthedwarfandpresentedhimtothePrince,askinghim,atthesametime,whathethoughtofhimasacook."Youareindeedawonderfulcook,"saidthenoblevisitortothelittleman."During-thewholeofmystayhereIhavenothadthesamekindofdishtwice.ButImustownIhavebeensurprisedthatyouhavenevertemptedourappetiteswiththequeenofalldainties,aSouzerainepasty."

           Thedwarfwasratherupset,foritchancedthathehadneverheardofthisbefore,buthemanagedtohidehisdiscomposure."Sir,"saidhe,"Ihadhopedyouweretohonourthiscourtwithyourpresenceforalong-timeyet,andthereforedidIdelaysettingthisdishbeforeyou,forwithwhatbetterdishcouldacookserveyou,asapartinggreeting,thanwiththatofaSouzerainepasty?"

           "Oh!indeed,"saidtheDukesmiling,"soIsupposeyouwerewaitingformetoleavetheworldforeverbeforegivingmethepartinggreeting,forIhaveneversomuchasheardofthispasty,muchlesstastedit.Butwewillwaitforitnolonger;tomorrowmorningweshallexpectyoutoserveituptousforbreakfast."