The Daughter of an Empress

Thus speaking, the chief cook, Signor Gianettino, took his hat and

gold-headed cane to go to the market. Six kitchen-boys, armed with large

baskets, followed him at a respectful distance.

At the great vegetable and fish-market of Rome there was to-day a very

unusual and extraordinary life and movement. There was a crowd and

tumult, a roaring and screaming, a shouting and laughing, such as had

not been heard for a long time. It was partly in consequence of the fact

that the whole diplomatic corps had been for some days agitated with

preparations for entertainments in honor of the Archduke Ferdinand,

who had come to Rome to see the wonders of the holy city, and who could

hardly find time and leisure for the festivities offered him. But for

the tradesmen and dealers, for the country people in the vicinity of

Rome, this presence of the Austrian prince was a happy circumstance; for

these banquets and festivals scattered money among the people, and the

dealers and honest country people could fearlessly raise their prices,

as they were sure of a sale for their commodities. The cooks and

servants of the diplomatists and cardinals were seen running hither and

thither in busy haste, everywhere selecting the best, everywhere buying

and cheapening.

But in one place in the market there was to-day an especial liveliness

and activity among the crowd, and to that spot Signor Gianettino bent

his steps. He had seen the cook of the Spanish ambassador, the Duke of

Grimaldi, among those collected there, and as this cook was one of his

bitterest enemies and opponents, Signor Gianettino resolved to watch

him, and, if possible, to play him a trick. He therefore cautiously

mingled with the crowd, and made a sign to his followers to keep at a

distance from him.

It was certainly a very important affair with which the Spanish cook

Don Bempo was occupied, as it concerned the purchase of a fish that a

countryman had brought to the city, of such a monstrous size and weight

that the like had never been seen there. It was the most remarkable

specimen with which the Roman fish-market had ever been honored. But the

lucky fisherman was fully aware of the extraordinary beauty of his fish,

and in his arrogant pride demanded twenty ducats for it.

That was what troubled Don Bempo. Twenty ducats for one single fish,

and the major-domo of the Spanish ambassador had urged upon him the most

stringent economy; but he had, indeed, at the same time urged upon him

to provide everything as splendid as possible for the banquet which the

Duke of Grimaldi was to give in honor of the Archduke Ferdinand; indeed,

he had with an anxious sigh commanded him to outdo if possible the next

day's feast of Cardinal Bernis, and to provide yet rarer and more costly

viands than the French cook.