21-the history of dwarf long nose-第4章
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dishes； and smacked his lips over them。 'First rate； indeed！' he
exclaimed。 'You certainly are a master of the art； little
fellow； and the herb heal…well gives a particular relish。'
As he was speaking； the duke's valet came to say that his
highness was ready for luncheon； and it was served at once in
silver dishes。 The head cook took Jem to his own room； but had
hardly had time to question him before he was ordered to go at
once to the grand duke。 He hurried on his best clothes and
followed the messenger。
The grand duke was looking much pleased。 He had emptied the
dishes； and was wiping his mouth as the head cook came in。 'Who
cooked my luncheon to…day？' asked he。 'I must say your dumplings
are always very good； but I don't think I ever tasted anything so
delicious as they were to…day。 Who made them？'
'It is a strange story； your highness；' said the cook； and told
him the whole matter； which surprised the duke so much that he
sent for the dwarf and asked him many questions。 Of course； Jem
could not say he had been turned into a squirrel； but he said he
was without parents and had been taught cooking by an old woman。
'If you will stay with me；' said the grand duke； 'you shall have
fifty ducats a year； besides a new coat and a couple of pairs of
trousers。 You must undertake to cook my luncheon yourself and to
direct what I shall have for dinner； and you shall be called
assistant head cook。'
Jem bowed to the ground； and promised to obey his new master in
all things。
He lost no time in setting to work； and everyone rejoiced at
having him in the kitchen； for the duke was not a patient man；
and had been known to throw plates and dishes at his cooks and
servants if the things served were not quite to his taste。 Now
all was changed。 He never even grumbled at anything； had five
meals instead of three； thought everything delicious； and grew
fatter daily。
And so Jem lived on for two years； much respected and considered；
and only saddened when he thought of his parents。 One day passed
much like another till the following incident happened。
Dwarf Long Noseas he was always calledmade a practice of
doing his marketing as much as possible himself； and whenever
time allowed went to the market to buy his poultry and fruit。
One morning he was in the goose market； looking for some nice fat
geese。 No one thought of laughing at his appearance now； he was
known as the duke's special body cook； and every goose…woman
felt honoured if his nose turned her way。
He noticed one woman sitting apart with a number of geese； but
not crying or praising them like the rest。 He went up to her；
felt and weighed her geese； and； finding them very good； bought
three and the cage to put them in； hoisted them on his broad
shoulders； and set off on his way back。
As he went； it struck him that two of the geese were gobbling and
screaming as geese do； but the third sat quite still； only
heaving a deep sigh now and then； like a human being。 'That
goose is ill；' said he； 'I must make haste to kill and dress
her。'
But the goose answered him quite distinctly：
'Squeeze too tight
And I'll bite；
If my neck a twist you gave
I'd bring you to an early grave。'
Quite frightened； the dwarf set down the cage； and the goose
gazed at him with sad wise…looking eyes and sighed again。
'Good gracious！' said Long Nose。 'So you can speak； Mistress
Goose。 I never should have thought it！ Well； don't be anxious。
I know better than to hurt so rare a bird。 But I could bet you
were not always in this plumagewasn't I a squirrel myself for a
time？'
'You are right；' said the goose； 'in supposing I was not born in
this horrid shape。 Ah！ no one ever thought that Mimi； the
daughter of the great Weatherbold； would be killed for the ducal
table。'
'Be quite easy； Mistress Mimi；' comforted Jem。 'As sure as I'm
an honest man and assistant head cook to his highness； no one
shall harm you。 I will make a hutch for you in my own rooms； and
you shall be well fed； and I'll come and talk to you as much as I
can。 I'll tell all the other cooks that I am fattening up a
goose on very special food for the grand duke； and at the first
good opportunity I will set you free。'
The goose thanked him with tears in her eyes； and the dwarf kept
his word。 He killed the other two geese for dinner； but built a
little shed for Mimi in one of his rooms； under the pretence of
fattening her under his own eye。 He spent all his spare time
talking to her and comforting her； and fed her on all the
daintiest dishes。 They confided their histories to each other；
and Jem learnt that the goose was the daughter of the wizard
Weatherbold； who lived on the island of Gothland。 He fell out
with an old fairy； who got the better of him by cunning and
treachery； and to revenge herself turned his daughter into a
goose and carried her off to this distant place。 When Long Nose
told her his story she said：
'I know a little of these matters； and what you say shows me that
you are under a herb enchantmentthat is to say； that if you can
find the herb whose smell woke you up the spell would be broken。'
This was but small comfort for Jem； for how and where was he to
find the herb？
About this time the grand duke had a visit from a neighbouring
prince； a friend of his。 He sent for Long Nose and said to him：
'Now is the time to show what you can really do。 This prince who
is staying with me has better dinners than any one except myself；
and is a great judge of cooking。 As long as he is here you must
take care that my table shall be served in a manner to surprise
him constantly。 At the same time； on pain of my displeasure；
take care that no dish shall appear twice。 Get everything you
wish and spare nothing。 If you want to melt down gold and
precious stones； do so。 I would rather be a poor man than have
to blush before him。'
The dwarf bowed and answered：
'Your highness shall be obeyed。 I will do all in my power to
please you and the prince。'
From this time the little cook was hardly seen except in the
kitchen； where； surrounded by his helpers； he gave orders； baked；
stewed； flavoured and dished up all manner of dishes。
The prince had been a fortnight with the grand duke； and enjoyed
himself mightily。 They ate five times a day； and the duke had
every reason to be content with the dwarf's talents； for he saw
how pleased his guest looked。 On the fifteenth day the duke sent
for the dwarf and presented him to the prince。
'You are a wonderful cook；' said the prince； 'and you certainly
know what is good。 All the time I have been here you have never
repeated a dish； and all were excellent。 But tell me why you
have never served the queen of all dishes； a Suzeraine Pasty？'
The dwarf felt frightened； for he had never heard of this Queen
of Pasties before。 But he did not lose his presence of mind； and
replied：
'I have waited； hoping that your highness' visit here would last
some time； for I proposed to celebrate the last day of your stay
with this truly royal dish。'
'Indeed；' laughed the grand duke； 'then I suppose you would have
waited for the day of my death to treat me to it； for you have
never sent it up to me yet。 However； you will have to invent
some other farewell dish； for the pasty must be on my table
to…morrow。'
'As your highness pleases；' said the dwarf； and took leave。
But it did not please HIM at all。 The moment of disgrace seemed
at hand； for he had no idea how to make this pasty。 He went to
his rooms very sad。 As he sat there lost in thought the goose
Mimi； who was left free to walk about； came up to him and asked
what was the matter？ When she heard she said：
'Cheer up； my friend。 I know the dish quite well： we often had
it at home； and I can guess pretty well how it was made。' Then
she told him what to put in； adding： 'I think that will be all
right； and if some trifle is left out perhaps they won't find it
out。'
Sure enough； next day a magnificent pasty all wreathed round with
flowers was placed on the table。 Jem himself put on his best
clothes and went into t
