21-the history of dwarf long nose-第5章

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flowers　was　placed　on　the　table。　　Jem　himself　put　on　his　best
clothes　and　went　into　the　dining　hall。　　As　he　entered　the　head
carver　was　in　the　act　of　cutting　up　the　pie　and　helping　the　duke
and　his　guests。　　The　grand　duke　took　a　large　mouthful　and　threw
up　his　eyes　as　he　swallowed　it。

'Oh！　oh！　this　may　well　be　called　the　Queen　of　Pasties；　and　at
the　same　time　my　dwarf　must　be　called　the　king　of　cooks。　　Don't
you　think　so；　dear　friend？'

The　prince　took　several　small　pieces；　tasted　and　examined
carefully；　and　then　said　with　a　mysterious　and　sarcastic　smile：

'The　dish　is　very　nicely　made；　but　the　Suzeraine　is　not　quite
completeas　I　expected。'

The　grand　duke　flew　into　a　rage。

'Dog　of　a　cook；'　he　shouted；　'how　dare　you　serve　me　so？　　　I've　a
good　mind　to　chop　off　your　great　head　as　a　punishment。'

'For　mercy's　sake；　don't；　your　highness！　　I　made　the　pasty
according　to　the　best　rules；　nothing　has　been　left　out。　　Ask　the
prince　what　else　I　should　have　put　in。'

The　prince　laughed。　　'I　was　sure　you　could　not　make　this　dish　as
well　as　my　cook；　friend　Long　Nose。　　Know；　then；　that　a　herb　is
wanting　called　Relish；　which　is　not　known　in　this　country；　but
which　gives　the　pasty　its　peculiar　flavour；　and　without　which
your　master　will　never　taste　it　to　perfection。'

The　grand　duke　was　more　furious　than　ever。

'But　I　WILL　taste　it　to　perfection；'　he　roared。　　'Either　the
pasty　must　be　made　properly　to…morrow　or　this　rascal's　head　shall
come　off。　　Go；　scoundrel；　I　give　you　twenty…four　hours　respite。'

The　poor　dwarf　hurried　back　to　his　room；　and　poured　out　his　grief
to　the　goose。

'Oh；　is　that　all；'　said　she；　'then　I　can　help　you；　for　my　father
taught　me　to　know　all　plants　and　herbs。　　Luckily　this　is　a　new
moon　just　now；　for　the　herb　only　springs　up　at　such　times。　　But
tell　me；　are　there　chestnut　trees　near　the　palace？'

'Oh；　yes！'　cried　Long　Nose；　much　relieved；　'near　the　lakeonly　a
couple　of　hundred　yards　from　the　palaceis　a　large　clump　of
them。　　But　why　do　you　ask？'

'Because　the　herb　only　grows　near　the　roots　of　chestnut　trees；'
replied　Mimi；　'so　let　us　lose　no　time　in　finding　it。　　Take　me
under　your　arm　and　put　me　down　out　of　doors；　and　I'll　hunt　for
it。'

He　did　as　she　bade；　and　as　soon　as　they　were　in　the　garden　put
her　on　the　ground；　when　she　waddled　off　as　fast　as　she　could
towards　the　lake；　Jem　hurrying　after　her　with　an　anxious　heart；
for　he　knew　that　his　life　depended　on　her　success。　　The　goose
hunted　everywhere；　but　in　vain。　　She　searched　under　each　chestnut
tree；　turning　every　blade　of　grass　with　her　billnothing　to　be
seen；　and　evening　was　drawing　on！

Suddenly　the　dwarf　noticed　a　big　old　tree　standing　alone　on　the
other　side　of　the　lake。　　'Look；'　cried　he；　'let　us　try　our　luck
there。'

The　goose　fluttered　and　skipped　in　front；　and　he　ran　after　as
fast　as　his　little　legs　could　carry　him。　　The　tree　cast　a　wide
shadow；　and　it　was　almost　dark　beneath　it；　but　suddenly　the　goose
stood　still；　flapped　her　wings　with　joy；　and　plucked　something；
which　she　held　out　to　her　astonished　friend；　saying：　　'There　it
is；　and　there　is　more　growing　here；　so　you　will　have　no　lack　of
it。'

The　dwarf　stood　gazing　at　the　plant。　　It　gave　out　a　strong　sweet
scent；　which　reminded　him　of　the　day　of　his　enchantment。　　The
stems　and　leaves　were　a　bluish　green；　and　it　bore　a　dark；　bright
red　flower　with　a　yellow　edge。

'What　a　wonder！'　cried　Long　Nose。　　'I　do　believe　this　is　the　very
herb　which　changed　me　from　a　squirrel　into　my　present　miserable
form。　　Shall　I　try　an　experiment？'

'Not　yet；'　said　the　goose。　　'Take　a　good　handful　of　the　herb　with
you；　and　let　us　go　to　your　rooms。　　We　will　collect　all　your　money
and　clothes　together；　and　then　we　will　test　the　powers　of　the
herb。'

So　they　went　back　to　Jem's　rooms；　and　here　he　gathered　together
some　fifty　ducats　he　had　saved；　his　clothes　and　shoes；　and　tied
them　all　up　in　a　bundle。　　Then　he　plunged　his　face　into　the　bunch
of　herbs；　and　drew　in　their　perfume。

As　he　did　so；　all　his　limbs　began　to　crack　and　stretch；　he　felt
his　head　rising　above　his　shoulders；　he　glanced　down　at　his　nose；
and　saw　it　grow　smaller　and　smaller；　his　chest　and　back　grew
flat；　and　his　legs　grew　long。

The　goose　looked　on　in　amazement。　　'Oh；　how　big　and　how　beautiful
you　are！'　she　cried。　　'Thank　heaven；　you　are　quite　changed。'

Jem　folded　his　hands　in　thanks；　as　his　heart　swelled　with
gratitude。　　But　his　joy　did　not　make　him　forget　all　he　owed　to
his　friend　Mimi。

'I　owe　you　my　life　and　my　release；'　he　said；　'for　without　you　I
should　never　have　regained　my　natural　shape；　and；　indeed；　would
soon　have　been　beheaded。　　I　will　now　take　you　back　to　your
father；　who　will　certainly　know　how　to　disenchant　you。'

The　goose　accepted　his　offer　with　joy；　and　they　managed　to　slip
out　of　the　palace　unnoticed　by　anyone。

They　got　through　the　journey　without　accident；　and　the　wizard
soon　released　his　daughter；　and　loaded　Jem　with　thanks　and
valuable　presents。　　He　lost　no　time　in　hastening　back　to　his
native　town；　and　his　parents　were　very　ready　to　recognise　the
handsome；　well…made　young　man　as　their　long…lost　son。　　With　the
money　given　him　by　the　wizard　he　opened　a　shop；　which　prospered
well；　and　he　lived　long　and　happily。

I　must　not　forget　to　mention　that　much　disturbance　was　caused　in
the　palace　by　Jem's　sudden　disappearance；　for　when　the　grand　duke
sent　orders　next　day　to　behead　the　dwarf；　if　he　had　not　found　the
necessary　herbs；　the　dwarf　was　not　to　be　found。　　The　prince
hinted　that　the　duke　had　allowed　his　cook　to　escape；　and　had
therefore　broken　his　word。　　The　matter　ended　in　a　great　war
between　the　two　princes；　which　was　known　in　history　as　the　'Herb
War。'　　After　many　battles　and　much　loss　of　life；　a　peace　was　at
last　concluded；　and　this　peace　became　known　as　the　'Pasty　Peace；'
because　at　the　banquet　given　in　its　honour　the　prince's　cook
dished　up　the　Queen　of　Pastiesthe　Suzeraineand　the　grand
duke　declared　it　to　be　quite　excellent。