he was through, he ordered both
dishes to be placed on the fire, and to allow them to cook to the exact
moment when he should call out. Then he began to count _one_, _two_,
_three_, and so on, until he reached five hundred, when he sang out:
"Stop!" The pots were then set to one side, and the dwarf invited the
master of the kitchen to taste of their contents. The head cook took a
gold spoon from one of the scullions, dipped it in the brook, and
handed it to the master of the kitchen, who stepped up to the hearth
with a solemn air, dipped his spoon into the food, tasted it, closed
his eyes, smacked his lips, and said: "By the life of the duke, it's
superb! Won't you take a spoonful, steward?" The steward bowed, took
the spoon, tasted, and was beside himself with pleasure. "With all
respect for your art, dear head cook, you have had experience, but have
never made either soup or Hamburg dumpling that could equal this!" The
cook now took a taste, shook the dwarf most respectfully by the hand,
and said: "Little One! you are a master of the art; really, that
'stomach's joy' makes it perfect."

[Illustration]

At this moment the duke's valet came into the kitchen and announced
that his grace was ready for his breakfast. The food was now placed on
silver plates and sent in to the duke; the master of the kitchen taking
the dwarf to his own room, where he entertained him. But they had not
been there long enough to say a pater-noster, (such is the name of the
Franks' prayer, O Sire, and it does not take half as long to say it as
to speak the prayer of the Faithful,) when there came a message from
the duke requesting the presence of the master of the kitchen. He
dressed himself quickly in his court costume, and followed the
messenger. The duke appeared to be in fine spirits. He had eaten all
there was on the silver plates, and was wiping his beard as the master
of the kitchen entered. "Hear me, master of the kitchen," said he, "I
have always been very well pleased with your cooks up to the present
time; now tell me who it was that prepared my breakfast this morning?
It was never so delicious since I sat on the throne of my ancestors;
tell me the cook's name that I may send him a present of a few ducats."

"Sire, it is a strange story," replied the master of the kitchen; and
went on to tell the duke how a dwarf had been brought to him that
morning who wished a place as cook, and what had occurred afterwards.
The duke was greatly