The Daughter of an Empress

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 gratitude--a 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."