tood why the steward had found it
necessary to bring four assistants along as cup-bearers.

There was a king's ransom on that table, in sober truth, for there
could be no doubt but that this was part of the gold which had been
carried from Huanuco when it had been demanded by Pizarro as payment
for the life of Atahualpa.

But better even than the service was that which it contained. It may
not have been such as would enhance the reputation of a French chef,
but to us then it seemed that the culinary art could go no farther.

There was a large platter; Harry lifted its cover in an ecstasy of
hope; but the next instant his face fell ludicrously.

"Our old friend, Mr. Dried Fish," he announced sadly, and gave it up.

Then I tried my luck, and with better success.

First I uncovered a dish of stew, steaming hot! To be sure, it was
fish, but it was hot. Then a curious, brittle kind of bread; I call it
that, though on trial it appeared to be made from the roe of some kind
of fish. Also there was some excellent fish-soup, also hot, and quite
delicious.

Four hundred years of development had taught the royal chefs to prepare
fish in so many different ways that we almost failed to recognize them
as of the same family.

"Couldn't be better," said Harry, helping himself liberally to the
stew. "We can eat this, and cache the dried stuff. We'll have enough
for an army in a week."

"As for me, I saw before me the raw material for our weapons. When we
had emptied the golden platter that held our bread," I secreted it
under the cover of the granite couch. When the serving-men called to
remove the dishes they apparently did not notice its absence. So far,
success.

Some hours later Desiree paid us a second call. She appeared to be in
the gayest of spirits, and I eyed her curiously from a seat in the
corner as she and Harry sat side by side, chatting for all the world as
though they had been in her own Paris drawing-room.

Was it possible that she was really satisfied, as she had said? What
imaginable food could these black dwarfs find to appease her tremendous
vanity? Or was she merely living the motto of the French philosopher?

Harry was demanding that he be allowed to visit her apartment; this she
refused, saying that if he were found there by the king nothing could
avert a catastrophe. Harry's brow grew black; I could see his effort
to choke back his anger. Then Desiree led him away from the topic, and
s