rrupted in his work, he also saw the newcomers, and then cast a
peevish glance at one corner of the room, where stood a table covered
with fine linen and set with silver dishes, among them a platter on
which early pears and juicy plums were spread invitingly. The landlady
of The Pike had arranged them daintily upon fresh vine leaves an hour
before with her own plump but nimble hands. Of course they were intended
for the gentlemen from Nuremberg and their guests. Dietel, too, now knew
them, and saw that the party numbered a person no less distinguished
than the far-famed and highly learned Doctor and Imperial Councillor,
Conrad Peutinger. They were riding to Cologne together under the same
escort. The citizens of Nuremberg were distinguished men, as well as
their guest, but Dietel had served distinguished personages by the dozen
at The Blue Pike for many years--among them even crowned heads--and they
had wanted for nothing. His skill, however, was not sufficient for these
city demigods; for the landlord of The Pike intended to look after their
table himself. Tomfoolery! There was more than enough for him to do that
day over yonder in the room occupied by the lansquenets and the city
soldiers, where he usually directed affairs in person. It roused
Dietel's ire. The cooking of The Blue Pike, which the landlady
superintended, could vie with any in the Frank country, on the Rhine,
or in Swabia, yet, forsooth, it wasn't good enough for the Nuremberg
guests. The Council cook, a fat, pompous fellow, accompanied them, and
had already begun to bustle about the hearth beside the hostess. They
really would have required no service at all, for they brought their own
attendants. It certainly was not Dietel's usual custom to wish any one
evil, but if Gotz Berlichinger, who had recently attacked a party of
Leipsic merchants at Forchheim, or Hans von Geisslingen had fallen upon
them and subdued their arrogance, it would not have spoiled Dietel's
appetite.

At last they moved forward. The others might treat them as they chose;
he, at least, would neither say anything to them nor bow before them as
the ears did before Joseph in Holy Writ. Nevertheless, he looked out
of the corner of his eye at them as he took from the basket of the
round-checked kitchen maid, who had now found her way to him, one fresh
brown roll after another, and placed them beside plate after plate.
How well risen and how crusty they were! They fairly cracked under the