ied, 'Now!' The saucepans were taken off, and he
invited the head cook to taste.

The first cook took a golden spoon, washed and wiped it, and handed
it to the head cook, who solemnly approached, tasted the 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 Nose--as he was always called--made a practice of doing his
marketing as much as possible himself, and whenever time allowed went to
the market to buy his poultry