The Daughter of an Empress

No one had before remarked him in the crowd, for they had been all eyes

and ears for Don Bempo, and hence every one supposed that he had only

just then arrived.

The shrewd chief cook also assumed the appearance of having only

accidentally passed that way without the intention of buying any thing.

But he suddenly stopped before the great fish as if astonished at its

enormous size, and seemed to view it with admiration and delight.

"What a rare and splendid animal is this!" he finally exclaimed with

animation. "Really, one must come to Rome to see such a wonder!"

"That is understood!" exultingly cried the bystanders, who had a

reverence for the fishes of Rome.

"This is no niggard! He will not be so mean as to offer twelve ducats

for such a miracle as this!"

"Twelve ducats!" cried Gianettino, folding his hands. "How can you think

me so pitiful as to offer such a miserable sum for so noble a fish. No,

truly, he must have a bold forehead who would offer so little money for

this splendid animal!"

"Hear him! hear!" cried the people. "This is a learned man. He knows

something of the value of rarities!"

"Viva! Long life to the French cook, il grande ministre della

cucina!"

Gianettino bowed politely in response to the compliment, and then

civilly asked the price of the fish.

The fisherman stood there with an expression of regretful sadness upon

his face. "I fear it will be of little use to name the price!" said he,

"the fish is as good as sold!"

"Nevertheless, name the price!"

"Twenty ducats!"

"Twenty ducats!" exclaimed Gianettino, with an expression of the

liveliest astonishment. "You jest, my friend! How can such a splendid

animal be possibly sold for twenty ducats?"

"Here! hear!" shouted the crowd. "He finds the price too low!"

"He is a real gentleman!"

"He will not buy gudgeons like the Spaniard!"

"In earnest, friend, tell me the price of this fish!" said Gianettino.

"I have demanded twenty ducats for it," sadly responded the fisherman,

"and it is sold for that sum."

"Impossible! In that case it would not be lying here!" replied

Gianettino. "Or had the man paid you the money, and now gone for a cart

for the conveyance of the giant?"

"I have not yet been paid."

"The purchaser, then, has given you earnest money?"

"No, not even that. I have yet received nothing upon it."

"And you can pretend that you have sold this fish," cried Gianettino,

"and that, too, for the ridiculously small sum of twenty ducats! Ah,

you are a joker, my good man; you wish to excite in me a desire for this

rare specimen, and therefore you say it is sold. But how can a fish that

yet lies exposed for sale, and for which no one had made you a suitable

offer, be already sold?"