the daughter of an empress-第37部分

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y　and　leave　me　to　go　my　way　without　further　hindrance。　It　is　not　noble　to　lay　hands　on　the　goods　of　another；　Don　Bempo；　and　this　fish　is　mine！〃

〃But　this　is　contrary　to　all　international　law！〃　exclaimed　the　enraged　Don　Bempo。　〃You　forget；　signor；　that　you　insult　my　master；　that　you　insult　Spain；　by　withholding　from　me　by　main　force　what　I　have　purchased　in　the　name　of　Spain。〃

〃France　will　never　stand　second　to　Spain！〃　proudly　responded　Gianettino；　〃and　where　Spain　/offers/　twenty　ducats；　France　/pays/　six…and…thirty！Forward；　my　youngsters！　To　the　kitchen　of　the　French　ambassador！〃

And　urgently　pushing　back　Don　Bempo；　Gianettino　solemnly　marched　through　the　crowd　with　his　retinue；　the　people　readily　making　a　path　for　him　and　cheering　him　as　he　went。

It　was　a　brilliant　triumph　in　the　person　of　the　chief　cook　of　their　ambassador；　which　the　French　celebrated　to…day；　it　was　a　shameful　defeat　which　Spain　suffered　to…day　in　the　person　of　her　ambassador's　chief　cook。

Proud　and　happy　marched　Signor　Gianettino　through　the　streets；　accompanied　by　his　gigantic　fish；　and　followed　by　the　shouts　of　a　Roman　mob。

Humiliated；　with　eyes　cast　down；　with　rage　in　his　heart　sneaked　Don　Bempo　toward　the　Spanish　ambassador's　hotel；　and　long　heard　behind　him　the　whistling；　laughter；　and　catcalls　of　the　Roman　people。



THE　FISH　FEUD

Cardinal　Bernis　was　in　his　boudoir。　Before　him　lay　the　list　of　those　persons　whom　he　had　invited　to　his　entertainment　of　the　next　day；　and　he　saw　with　proud　satisfaction　that　all　had　accepted　his　invitation。

〃I　shall；　then；　have　a　brilliant　and　stately　society　to　meet　this　Austrian　archduke；〃　said　the　well…contented　cardinal　to　himself。　〃The　/elite/　of　the　nobility；　all　the　cardinals　and　ambassadors；　will　make　their　appearance；　and　Austria　will　be　compelled　to　acknowledge　that　France　maintains　the　best　understanding　with　all　the　European　powers；　and　that　she　is　not　the　less　respected　because　the　Marquise　de　Pompadour　is　in　fact　King　of　France。〃

〃Ah；　this　good　marquise；〃　continued　the　cardinal；　stretching　himself　comfortably　upon　his　lounge　and　taking　an　open　letter　from　the　table；　〃this　good　marquise　gives　me　in　fact　some　cause　for　anxiety。　She　writes　me　here　that　France　is　in　favor　of　the　project　of　Portugal　for　the　suppression　of　the　order　of　the　Jesuits；　and　I　am　so　to　inform　the　pope！　This　is　a　dangerous　thing；　marquise；　and　may　possibly　burn　your　tender　fingers。　The　suppression　of　the　Jesuits！　Is　not　that　to　explode　a　powder…barrel　in　the　midst　of　Europe；　that　may　shatter　all　the　states？　No；　no；　it　is　foolhardiness；　and　I　have　not　the　courage　to　apply　the　match　to　this　powder…barrel！　I　fear　it　may　blow　us　all　into　the　air。〃

And　the　cardinal　began　to　read　anew　the　letter　of　Madame　de　Pompadour　which　a　French　courier　had　brought　him　a　few　hours　before。

〃Ahem；　that　will　be　dangerous　for　the　good　father！〃　said　he；　shaking　his　head。　〃Austria　also　agrees　to　this　magnificent　plan　of　the　Portuguese　Minister　Pombal；　and　I　am　inclined　to　think　that　this　Austrian　archduke　has　come　to　Rome　only　for　the　purpose　of　bringing　to　the　pope　the　consent　of　the　Empress　Maria　Theresa！　Ha；　ha！　how　singular！　their　chaste　and　virtuous　Maria　Theresa　and　our　good　Pompadour　are　both　agreed　in　the　matter；　and　in　taking　this　course　are　both　acting　against　their　own　will。　The　women　love　the　Jesuits；　these　good　fathers　who　furnish　them　with　an　excuse　for　every　weakness；　and　hold　a　little　back　door　open　for　every　sin。　That　is　very　convenient　for　these　good　women！　Yes；　yes；　the　womenI　think　I　know　them。〃

And；　smiling；　the　cardinal　sank　deeper　into　himself；　dreaming　of　past；　of　charming　times；　when　he　had　not　yet　counted　sixty…five　years。　He　dreamed　of　Venice；　and　of　a　beautiful　nun　he　had　loved　there；　and　who　for　him　had　often　left　her　cloister　in　the　night…time；　and；　warm　and　glowing　with　passion；　had　come　to　him。　He　dreamed　of　these　heavenly　hours；　where　all　pleasure　and　all　happiness　had　been　compressed　into　one　blessed　intoxication　of　bliss；　where　the　chaste　priestess　of　the　Church　had　for　him　changed　to　a　sparkling　priestess　of　joy！

〃Yes；　that　was　long　ago！〃　murmured　the　cardinal；　as　at　length　he　awoke　from　his　blissful　dreams　of　the　past。

〃Those　were　beautiful　timesI　was　then　young　and　happy；　I　was　then　a　man；　and　nownow　am　old；　love　has　withered；　and　with　it　poesy！　I　am　now　nothing　but　a　diplomatist。〃

There　was　a　low　knock　at　the　door。　The　cardinal　hastily　but　carefully　returned　the　portrait　of　his　beautiful　nun　to　the　secret　drawer　in　his　writing…table　whence　it　had　been　taken；　and　bade　the　knocker　to　enter。

It　was　Brunelli；　the　major…domo　of　the　cardinal；　who　came　with　a　proud　step；　and　face　beaming　with　joy；　to　make　a　report　of　his　plans　and　preparations　for　the　morrow's　entertainment。

〃In　the　evening　the　park　will　be　illuminated　with　many　thousand　lamps；　which　will　outshine　the　sun；　so　that　the　guests　will　there　wander　in　a　sea　of　light；〃　said　he；　in　closing　his　report。

The　cardinal　smiled；　and　with　a　stolen　glance　at　the　small　box　that　contained　the　portrait　of　this　beautiful　nun；　he　said：　〃Spare　some　of　the　walks　in　the　alleys　from　your　sea　of　light；　and　leave　them　in　partial　obscurity。　A　little　duskiness　is　sometimes　necessary　for　joy　and　happiness！　But　how　is　it　with　your　/carte　du　diner/？　What　has　Signor　Gianettino　to　offer　us？　I　hope　he　has　something　very　choice；　for　you　know　the　cardinals　like　a　good　table；　and　my　friend　Duke　Grimaldi　has　a　high　opinion　of　our　cuisine。〃

〃Ah；　the　Spanish　ambassador；　your　excellency？〃　exclaimed　Brunelli；　contemptuously。　〃The　Spanish　ambassador　knows　nothing　of　the　art　of　cookery；　or　he　would　not　possibly　be　satisfied　with　his　cook！　He　is　a　niggard；　a　poor　fellow；　of　whom　all　Rome　is　speaking　to…day；　and　laughing　at　him　and　his　master；　while　they　are　praising　you　to　the　skies！〃

And　Signor　Brunelli　related　to　his　listening　master　the　whole　story　of　the　gigantic　fish；　and　of　the　humiliation　of　the　Spanish　cook。

The　cardinal　listened　with　attention；　and　a　dark　cloud　gradually　gathered　upon　his　thoughtful　brow。

〃That　is　a　very　unfortunate　occurrence；〃　said　he；　shaking　his　head；　as　Brunelli　ended。

〃But　at　least　it　was　an　occurrence　in　which　France　triumphed；　your　excellency；〃　responded　Brunelli。

〃I　much　fear　the　Duke　of　Grimaldi　will　do　as　you　have　done；〃　said　the　cardinal；　〃he　will　confound　my　cook　with　France；　and　in　his　cook　see　all　Spain　insulted。〃

〃Then　your　excellency　is　not　satisfied？〃　asked　Brunelli；　with　consternation。　〃The　whole　palace　is　full　of　jubilation；　all　the　servants　and　lackeys　and　even　the　secretary　of　the　legation　are　delighted　with　this　divine　affair！〃

The　cardinal　paid　no　attention　to　these　panegyrics　of　his　major…domo；　but　thoughtfully　paced　the　room　with　long　strides。

〃And　you　think　Gianettino　had　the　right　of　it？〃　at　length　he　asked。

〃He　was　entirely　in　the　right；　your　excellency。　Nothing　had　been　paid　for　the　fish；　and　Gianettino's　right　to　purchase　was　perfect；　and　nobody　could　dispute　it！〃

〃Well；　when　we　are　in　the　right；　we　must　maintain　our　right；〃　said　the　cardinal；　after　a　pause；　〃and　as　the　affair　is　known　to　all　Rome；　it　must　be　fought　through　with　/eclat/！　The　fish；　in　all　its　pride　of　greatness　shall　grace　our　table　to…morrow！〃

〃We　have　no　dish　of　sufficient　size　in　which　to　serve　it。〃

〃Then　let　a　new　one　be　made；〃　laughed　the　cardinal。　〃Take　the　measure　of　this　Goliath；　and　hasten　to　the　silversmith；　that　he　may　make　a　silver　dish　of　the　proper　size。　But　see　that　it　is　completed　by　to…morrow　morning；　and　that　it　is　richly　ornamented。　If　Rome　has　heard　of　the　fish；　so　also　must　it　hear　of　the　dish。　Hasten；　therefore；　Signor　Brunelli；　and　see　that　all　is　done　as　I　have　ordered！〃

〃This　is；　in　fact；　a　very　diverting　story；〃　said　the　cardinal；　laughing；　when　he　was　again　alone。　〃We　have　here　a　monster　fish　which　will　probably　swallow　my　friendship　with　the　Duke　of　Grimaldi！　Well；　we　shall　see！〃

The　cardinal　then　rang　for　his　body…servant；　whom　he　ordered　to　dress　him。

〃Court　toilet？〃　asked　the　servant；　astonished　at　being　called　to　this　service　at　so　unusual　an　hour。

〃No；　house　toilet！〃　said　the　cardinal。　〃I　shall　soon　receive　visitors。〃

The　shrewd　cardinal　had　not　deceived　himself！　In　a　few　minutes　an　equipage　rolled　into　the　court　and　the　footman　announced　his　highness　the　Spanish　ambassador；　the　Duke　of　Grimaldi。

〃He　is　a　thousand　times　welcome！〃　cried　the　cardinal；　and　as　the　door　now　opened　and　the　Spanish　duke　entered；　the　cardinal　advanced　to　receive　him　with　open　arms　and　a　friendly　smile。

〃My　dear；　much…beloved　friend；　what　a　delightful　surprise　is　this！〃　said　the　cardinal。

But　the　duke　observed　neither　the　open　arms　nor　the　pleasant　smile；　nor　yet　the　friendly　welcome　of　the　cardinal。　He　strode　forward　with　a　serious；　majestic　/grandezza/；　and　placing　himself　directly　before　the　cardinal；　he　solemnly　asked：　〃Know　you　of　the　outrage　which　a　servant　of　your　house　has　inflicted　on　mine！〃

〃Of　an　outrage？〃　asked　the　cardinal；　without　embarrassment。　〃I　have　been　told　that　your　cook　had　a　dispute　with　mine；　because　mine　had　bought　a　fish　that　was　too　dear　for　yours。　That　is　all　I　know。〃

〃Then　they　have　not　told　you；〃　thundered　the　duke；　〃that　your　servant；　like　an　impudent　street　robber；　has　wrongfully　seized　my　property。　For　that　fish　was　mine；　it　belonged　to　the　Spanish　embassy；　and　therefore　to　Spain；　and　your　servant　has　with　outrageous　insolence　committed　a　trespass　upon　the　property　of　a　foreign　power！〃

〃Did　this　fish；　then；　actually　belong　to　the　Spanish　crown？〃　asked　Bernis。　〃Was　it　already　paid　for；　and　legally　yours？〃

〃It　was　not　paid　for；　but　was　ordered；　and　my　servant　had　gone　home　for　the　money。〃

〃As　long　as　it　was　not　paid　for；　no　one　could　have　any　claim　upon　it。〃

〃You　are；　then；　disposed　to　dispute　the　fish　with　me？〃　cried　the　duke。

〃Should　I　dispute　it；〃　smilingly　responded　the　cardinal；　〃that　would　be　the　equivalent　to　a　recognition　of　your　right　to　it；　which　I　have　no　idea　of　making。　Besides；　my　friend；　what　does　this　quarrel　of　our　cooks　concern　us；　and　what　has　Spain　and　France　to　do　with　these　disputes　of　our　servants？　They　may　fight　out　their　own　quarrels　with　each　other；　let　us　give　them　leave　to　do　so；　and　if　they　give　each