ou see that we are bringing a dwarf,
such a dwarf as you never saw?" The steward suppressed, though with
difficulty, a loud laugh, when he got sight of the little man, for he
was afraid that laughter would derogate from his dignity. He therefore
drove them all away with his whip except the dwarf, whom he led into
the house and asked what he wanted. Hearing that the little man wished
to see the master of the kitchen, he replied, "You make a mistake, my
little son; I suppose you want to see me, the steward of the palace, do
you not? You wish to become dwarf to the duke, is it not so?"

"No, sir," replied the dwarf, "I am a clever cook and skilled in the
preparation of all sorts of choice meats; be so kind as to bring me to
the master of the kitchen, perhaps he may be in want of my skill."

"Every one according to his wish, my little man; but you are an
inconsiderate youth. To the kitchen! why, as the duke's dwarf you
would have nothing to do and plenty to eat and drink to your heart's
desire, and fine clothes into the bargain. But we shall see; your
skill in the culinary art will hardly be such as a cook to the duke is
required to possess, and you are too good for a scullion." As he said
the last words he took the dwarf by the hand and conducted him to the
apartments of the master of the kitchen.

On arriving there the dwarf said, with so deep a bow that his nose
touched the floor, "Gracious, sir, are you in want of a skilful cook?"

The master of the kitchen, surveying him from top to toe, burst into a
loud fit of laughter, and said, "What, you a cook? Do you think that
our hearths are so low that you could even look on one, though you
should stand on tiptoe, and stretch your head ever so much out of your
shoulders? My good little fellow, whoever sent you here to hire
yourself as a cook, has been making a fool of you." Thus saying, the
master cook laughed heartily, and was joined by the steward of the
palace and all the servants in the room.

But the dwarf was not to be discomposed by this. "Of what consequence
is it to waste a few eggs, a little syrup and wine, some flour and
spice, upon trial, in a house where there are plenty? Give me some
dainty dish to prepare," said he, "procure all that is necessary for
it, and it shall be immediately prepared before your eyes, so that you
shall be constrained to avow that I am a first-rate cook."

While the dwarf was saying all this, and many other things, it was