The History of Dwarf Long Nose, part 2 · page 21 2101‘What has his highness ordered for luncheon?’ asked the head cook.102‘Sir, his highness has graciously ordered a Danish soup and red Hamburg dumplings.’103‘Good,’ said the head cook.104‘Have you heard, and do you feel equal to making these dishes?105Not that you will be able to make the dumplings, for they are a secret receipt.’106‘Is that all!’ said Jem, who had often made both dishes.107‘Nothing easier.108Let me have some eggs, a piece of wild boar, and such and such roots and herbs for the soup; and as for the dumplings,’ he added in a low voice to the head cook, ‘I shall want four different kinds of meat, some wine, a duck’s marrow, some ginger, and a herb called heal-well.’109‘Why,’ cried the astonished cook, ‘where did you learn cooking?110Yes, those are the exact materials, but we never used the herb heal-well, which, I am sure, must be an improvement.’111And now Jem was allowed to try his hand.112He could not nearly reach up to the kitchen range, but by putting a wide plank on two chairs he managed very well.113All the cooks stood round to look on, and could not help admiring the quick, clever way in which he set to work.114At last, when all was ready, Jem ordered the two dishes to be put on the fire till he gave the word.115Then he began to count: ‘One, two, three,’ till he got to five hundred when he cried, ‘Now!’116The saucepans were taken off, and he invited the head cook to taste.117The 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.118‘First rate, indeed!’ he exclaimed.119‘You certainly are a master of the art, little fellow, and the herb heal-well gives a particular relish.’120As 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.121The 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.122He hurried on his best clothes and followed the messenger.123The grand duke was looking much pleased.124He had emptied the dishes, and was wiping his mouth as the head cook came in.125‘Who cooked my luncheon to-day?’ asked he.126‘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.127Who made them?’128‘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.129Of 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.130‘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.131You must undertake to cook my luncheon yourself and to direct what I shall have for dinner, and you shall be called assistant head cook.’132Jem bowed to the ground, and promised to obey his new master in all things.133He 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.134Now all was changed.135He never even grumbled at anything, had five meals instead of three, thought everything delicious, and grew fatter daily.136And so Jem lived on for two years, much respected and considered, and only saddened when he thought of his parents.137One day passed much like another till the following incident happened.138Dwarf 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 and fruit.139One morning he was in the goose market, looking for some nice fat geese.140No one thought of laughing at his appearance now; he was known as the duke’s special body cook, and every goose-woman felt honoured if his nose turned her way.1 2← previousThe History of Dwarf Long Nose, part 1next →The History of Dwarf Long Nose, part 3↑ back to The Violet Fairy BookThis page in Markdown → https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg641/27/page/2/