the daughter of an empress-第35部分

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he　solitary　garden；　the　nightly　stillness　and　obscurity。　Ah；　one　blow　would　have　done　the　business！〃

〃Well；　and　what　if　the　gentleman　who　sat　near　her　had　seized　you　before　the　blow　was　struck？　How　then？〃　asked　the　other。　〃You　are　yet　but　a　novice　and　a　bungler；　friend　Giuseppo。　You　yet　lack　discretion；　the　tranquil　glance；　the　sure　hand！　You　always　suffer　yourself　to　become　excited；　which　is　unartistic　and　even　dangerous。　We　went　out　today　only　to　obtain　information；　we　were　only　to　discover　and　observe　the　signora；　and　perhaps　to　watch　for　an　opportunity。　But　to　fall　upon　her　in　this　garden　would　have　been　the　extreme　of　stupidity；　for　we　had　all　the　servants　and　the　hounds　against　us；　and　it　is　one　of　the　first　principles　of　our　profession　to　put　others　in　danger；　but　never　to　incur　it　themselves。〃

〃Wherefore；　then；　have　we　come　here？〃　cried　Giuseppo；　with　vehemence。

〃To　see　her　and　know　her；　that　we　may　surely　recognize　her　again　when　the　right　hour　comes。　And　that　hour　will　comeI　will　answer　for　it。　Did　not　the　signora　tell　us　that　this　lady　would　probably　attend　the　festival　of　Cardinal　Bernis？〃

〃She　said　so。〃

〃Well；　and　we　have　come　here　that　we　might　see　and　know　her　in　advance。　She　is　very　beautiful；　and　a　truly　respectable　person；　Giuseppo。　I　am　pleased　with　the　idea　of　this　festival　of　the　French　cardinal。　I　think　it　will　afford　much　business　in　our　line。〃



DIPLOMATIC　QUARRELS

In　the　palace　of　the　French　ambassador　at　Rome；　Cardinal　Bernis；　there　was　an　unusually　busy　movement　to…day。　From　the　kitchen…boys　to　the　major…domo；　all　were　in　a　most　lively　motion；　in　the　most　passionate　activity。　For　this　morning；　while　taking　his　chocolate；　the　cardinal　had　sent　for　his　major…domo；　and；　quite　contrary　to　the　usual　joviality　of　his　manner；　had　very　seriously　and　solemnly　said　to　him：　〃Signor　Brunelli；　I　to…day　intrust　you　with　a　very　important　and　responsible　duty；　that　of　making　as　splendid　as　possible　the　grand　festival　we　are　three　days　hence　to　give　in　honor　of　the　Archduke　Ferdinand。　No　pains　must　be　spared；　nothing　must　be　wanting；　the　most　luxurious　richness；　the　most　tasteful　decoration；　the　most　extravagant　splendor　must　be　exhibited。　For　this　entertainment　must　excite　the　attention　not　only　of　Rome；　but　of　all　Europe；　it　must　become　the　subject　of　conversation　at　all　the　courts；　and；　above　all；　it　must　cause　the　despair　of　all　present　ambassadorial　housekeeping。　I　have　very　important　diplomatic　reasons　for　this。　All　Europe　shall　see　how　devoted　France　is　to　the　empire　of　Austria；　and　what　a　good　understanding　subsists　between　the　two　courts。　Therefore；　Signor　Brunelli；　strain　your　inventive　head；　that　it　may　on　this　occasion　hit　upon　whatever　is　most　distinguished　and　pre…eminent；　for　this　must　be　an　entertainment　never　before　equalled。　That　is　what　I　expect；　what　I　demand　of　you；　and　if　you　satisfy　my　demands；　it　will　give　me　pleasure　to　reward　your　zeal　by　a　present　of　a　hundred　ducats。〃

Thus　with　solemn　dignity　spoke　the　cardinal；　while　sipping　his　chocolate；　and　Signor　Brunelli　had　pledged　himself　by　a　solemn　oath　punctually　to　fulfil　his　master's　commands；　and　to　astonish　Rome　with　an　entertainment　such　as　had　never　been　recorded　in　the　annals　of　diplomatic　history。

With　a　proud　step　had　Brunelli　gone　to　his　own　private　cabinet；　where；　having　shut　himself　up；　he　had　devoted　several　hours　to　serious　meditation　upon　the　deep　plans　presenting　themselves　to　his　mind。　But　Signor　Brunelli　had；　in　fact；　a　very　experienced　and　inventive　head；　and　the　cardinal　acted　wisely　in　confiding　in　his　major…domo　and　leaving　to　him　the　ordering　of　the　entertainment。

He　had　now；　with　the　sharp　glance　of　a　military　commander；　arranged　his　plan　of　battle；　and　felt　perfectly　sure　of　victory。　He　therefore　rang　for　a　servant；　and　commanded　the　attendance　of　the　chief　cook　in　the　cabinet　of　the　major…domo。　Then　with　a　gentlemanlike　listlessness　he　threw　himself　upon　the　divan　and　began　to　sip　his　coffee　with　the　exact　dignified　deportment　that　had　been　displayed　by　his　excellency　the　cardinal。

〃Signor　Gianettino；〃　said　he；　to　the　entering　cook；　〃I　propose　honoring　you　to…day　with　a　very　important　and　significant　affair。　I　wish；　on　the　day　after　to…morrow；　to　prepare　an　entertainment　which　in　splendor　and　magnificence　shall　surpass　anything　hitherto　seen。　You　know　that　the　major…domos　of　the　other　diplomatists　have　become　my　irreconcilable　enemies　through　envy；　they　cannot　forgive　me　for　having　more　inventive　faculties　and　better　taste　than　any　of　them！　We　must　bring　these　major…domos　to　despair；　and　with　a　gnashing　of　teeth　they　shall　acknowledge　that　in　all　things　I　am　their　master。　You；　however；　must　aid　me　in　this　great　work；　in　your　hands；　Signor　Gianettino；　lies　a　considerable　part　of　my　triumph　and　my　laurels。　For　what　does　it　help　me；　if　the　arrangements　and　decorations；　if　the　whole　establishment；　are　excellent；　should　there　be　a　failure　in　the　highest　and　most　sublime　part　of　the　entertainmentin　the　food。　The　food；　my　dear　sir；　and　a　well…ordered　table；　is　the　gist　of　a　festival；　and　should　there　be　the　least　failure　in　that；　the　whole　is　profaned　and　desecrated；　and　must　be　covered　with　a　mourning…veil。　Take　my　words　to　heart；　signor；　let　us　have　a　table　covered　with　food　the　mere　odor　of　which　shall　set　our　first　gourmets　in　ecstatic　astonishment；　while　its　judicious　arrangement　will　give　pleasure　to　the　poetic　mind！　This　is　what　I　expect　of　you；　and　if　you　succeed　in　satisfying　my　requirements；　I　am　ready　to　reward　your　exertions　with　fifty　bottles　of　our　best　French　wines。〃

Signor　Gianettino　returned　his　thanks　with　a　pleasant；　thoughtful　smile；　and　with　a　majestic　step　repaired　to　his　boudoir；　where　he　was　seen　for　a　long　time；　walking　back　and　forth　in　deep　thought　and　with　a　wrinkled　brow。　Then；　stepping　to　his　writing…table；　he　sketched　the　plan　of　this　inordinately　great　dinner；　at　first　slowly　and　thoughtfully；　and　then　with　constantly　more　and　more　fire　and　enthusiasm；　carried　away　by　the　greatness　of　the　occasion；　and　animated　by　the　importance　of　his　mission　and　his　calling。

Then；　throwing　aside　the　pen；　and　exhausted　by　so　great　an　effort；　he　gently　glided　down　upon　the　divan；　at　the　same　time　ringing　for　a　servant　whom　he　directed　to　bring　his　breakfast　and　afterward　to　summon　all　the　cooks　and　scullions　to　his　cabinet。　He　then　stretched　himself　with　eminent　grace　upon　the　divan；　as　he　had　seen　the　major…　domo　do；　with　a　serious　thoughtfulness　he　sipped　the　glass　of　Malvoisie　the　servant　had　brought　him；　with　sundry　/pates/　and　rare　/entremets/。

And　they　came；　the　cooks　and　scullions；　they　came　in　their　white　jackets；　with　their　white　aprons　and　snow…white　caps；　they　came　in　solemn　silence；　fully　impressed　with　the　importance　of　the　moment。

〃Signors；〃　said　the　chief　cook；　〃it　is　on　a　beautiful　and　sublime　affair　that　I　have　assembled　you　here　to…day。　It　concerns　an　increase　of　the　fame　and　triumphs　we　have　so　many　times　gained　over　our　diplomatic　rivals；　and　an　increase　of　the　laurels　we　have　won　in　the　sacred　realms　of　our　art！　I　propose　to　prepare　a　banquet　for　to…morrow；　and　for　that　I　require　your　support　and　aid；　gentlemen。　For　what　is　the　use　of　ever　so　good　a　plan　of　battle　of　a　commander…in…　chief；　if　his　troops　fail　in　courage　and　skill　to　carry　out　the　plan　of　their　general？　Gentlemen；　I　doubt　not　your　courage　or　skill！　You　will　contend　for　the　sake　of　the　fame　we　have　acquired　and　hitherto　enjoyed　without　dispute；　for　the　sake　of　the　fame　which　the　French　/cuisine/　has　enjoyed　for　centuries；　and　which　must　be　preserved　until　the　end　of　all　things！　You　will　stand　by　me；　gentlemen；　in　the　praiseworthy　effort　to　acquire　new　glory　for　France；　by　showing　these　little　Austrian　princes　and　these　gentlemen　diplomatists　what　wonderful　things　the　French　art　of　cookery　can　bring　to　pass。　The　plan　is　devised　and　sketched；　and　all　that　is　now　required　is　its　execution。　If　this　great　work　succeeds；　then；　gentlemen；　you　may　feel　assured　of　my　eternal　gratitudea　gratitude　which　I　will　prove　to　you　by　leaving　all　the　remains　of　the　dinner　to　your　free　use　and　sole　benefit！　Here　is　the　plan；　hasten　to　the　work；　I　have　assigned　to　each　one　the　part　he　is　to　take　in　its　accomplishment。　Hasten；　therefore！　I；　however；　by　way　of　exception；　will　myself　go　to　the　market　to…day　and　make　the　necessary　purchases。　On　such　an　important　occasion；　no　one；　however　highly　placed；　must　decline　labor　and　the　faithful　performance　of　duty。　I　go；　therefore；　and　six　of　the　kitchen…boys　may　follow　me　with　their　baskets。〃

Thus　speaking；　the　chief　cook；　Signor　Gianettino；　took　his　hat　and　gold…headed　cane　to　go　to　the　market。　Six　kitchen…boys；　armed　with　large　baskets；　followed　him　at　a　respectful　distance。

At　the　great　vegetable　and　fish…market　of　Rome　there　was　to…day　a　very　unusual　and　extraordinary　life　and　movement。　There　was　a　crowd　and　tumult；　a　roaring　and　screaming；　a　shouting　and　laughing；　such　as　had　not　been　heard　for　a　long　time。　It　was　partly　in　consequence　of　the　fact　that　the　whole　diplomatic　corps　had　been　for　some　days　agitated　with　preparations　for　entertainments　in　honor　of　the　Archduke　Ferdinand；　who　had　come　to　Rome　to　see　the　wonders　of　the　holy　city；　and　who　could　hardly　find　time　and　leisure　for　the　festivities　offered　him。　But　for　the　tradesmen　and　dealers；　for　the　country　people　in　the　vicinity　of　Rome；　this　presence　of　the　Austrian　prince　was　a　happy　circumstance；　for　these　banquets　and　festivals　scattered　money　among　the　people；　and　the　dealers　and　honest　country　people　could　fearlessly　raise　their　prices；　as　they　were　sure　of　a　sale　for　their　commodities。　The　cooks　and　servants　of　the　diplomatists　and　cardinals　were　seen　running　hither　and　thither　in　busy　haste；　everywhere　selecting　the　best；　everywhere　buying　and　cheapening。

But　in　one　place　in　the　market　there　was　to…day　an　especial　liveliness　and　activity　among　the　crowd；　and　to　that　spot　Signor　Gianettino　bent　his　steps。　He　had　seen　the　cook　of　the　Spanish　ambassador；　the　Duke　of　Grimaldi；　among　those　collected　there；　and　as　this　cook　was　one　of　his　bitterest　enemies　and　opponents；　Signor　Gianettino　resolved　to　watch　him；　and；　if　possible；　to　play　him　a　trick。　He　therefore　cautiously　mingled　with　the　crowd；　and　made