"My second master, Lord Wilmot, whose stomach was so debilitated that for almost a year he ate without pleasure, and even without knowing the taste of different dishes, literally devoured food the first day I had the honour of serving him. It was he who, through gratitude, gave me the name of Appetite, which I have kept ever since." The canon looked at his visitor attentively, and replied: "Ah, you are a cook? But tell me, you have spoken to me of paying me the tribute of your admiration and of offering me your services, where were you acquainted with me?" "You have, sir, during your sojourn in Madrid, often dined with the ambassador of France." "Oh, yes, that was my good time," replied Dom Diégo, with sadness. "I rendered ample justice to the table of the ambassador of France, and I have proclaimed the fact that I knew of no better practitioner than his chef." "And this illustrious practitioner, with whom, my lord, I am in correspondence, that we may mutually keep pace with the progress of the science, has written to me to express his joy at having been so worthily appreciated by a connoisseur like yourself. I had taken note of your name, and yesterday, learning by chance that you were in search of a cook, I come to have the honour of offering you my services." "And from whom do you come, my friend?" "For ten years, my lord, I have worked only for myself, that is to say, for art. I have a modest fortune, but enough, so it is not a mercenary motive which brings me to you, sir." "But why do you offer your services to me, rather than to some one else?" "Because, being free to choose, I consult my convenience; because I am very jealous, my lord, horribly jealous." "Jealous; and of what?" "Of my master's fidelity." "What, the fidelity of your master?" "Yes, my lord; and I am sure you will be faithful, because you live alone, without family, and, by condition as well as character, you have not, like so many others, all sorts of inclinations which always bore or annoy one; as a serious and convinced man, you have only one passion, but profound, absolute, and that is gluttony. Well, this passion, I offer, my lord, to satisfy, as you have never been satisfied in your life." "You talk of gold, my dear friend, but do you know that, to make good your claims, in the use of such extravagant language, you must have great talent,--prodigious talent?" "This great, this prodigious talent I have, my lord." "Your avowal is not modest." "It is sincere, and you know, sir, that one may employ a legitimate assurance, from the consciousness of his power." "I like this noble pride, my dear friend, and if your acts respond to your words, you are a superior person." "Sir, put me to trial to-day, this hour."