“Ah, the Spanish ambassador, your excellency?” exclaimed Brunelli, contemptuously. “The Spanish ambassador knows nothing of the art of cookery, or he would not possibly be satisfied with his cook! He is a niggard, a poor fellow, of whom all Rome is speaking to-day, and laughing at him and his master, while they are praising you to the skies!” And Signor Brunelli related to his listening master the whole story of the gigantic fish, and of the humiliation of the Spanish cook. The cardinal listened with attention, and a dark cloud gradually gathered upon his thoughtful brow. “That is a very unfortunate occurrence,” said he, shaking his head, as Brunelli ended. “But at least it was an occurrence in which France triumphed, your excellency,” responded Brunelli. “I much fear the Duke of Grimaldi will do as you have done,” said the cardinal; “he will confound my cook with France, and in his cook see all Spain insulted.” “Then your excellency is not satisfied?” asked Brunelli, with consternation. “The whole palace is full of jubilation; all the servants and lackeys and even the secretary of the legation are delighted with this divine affair!” The cardinal paid no attention to these panegyrics of his major-domo, but thoughtfully paced the room with long strides. “And you think Gianettino had the right of it?” at length he asked. “He was entirely in the right, your excellency. Nothing had been paid for the fish, and Gianettino’s right to purchase was perfect, and nobody could dispute it!” “Well, when we are in the right, we must maintain our right,” said the cardinal, after a pause, “and as the affair is known to all Rome, it must be fought through with _eclat_! The fish, in all its pride of greatness shall grace our table to-morrow!” “We have no dish of sufficient size in which to serve it.” “Then let a new one be made,” laughed the cardinal. “Take the measure of this Goliath, and hasten to the silversmith, that he may make a silver dish of the proper size. But see that it is completed by to-morrow morning, and that it is richly ornamented. If Rome has heard of the fish, so also must it hear of the dish. Hasten, therefore, Signor Brunelli, and see that all is done as I have ordered!” “This is, in fact, a very diverting story,” said the cardinal, laughing, when he was again alone. “We have here a monster fish which will probably swallow my friendship with the Duke of Grimaldi! Well, we shall see!” The cardinal then rang for his body-servant, whom he ordered to dress him. “Court toilet?” asked the servant, astonished at being called to this service at so unusual an hour. “No, house toilet!” said the cardinal. “I shall soon receive visitors.” The shrewd cardinal had not deceived himself! In a few minutes an equipage rolled into the court and the footman announced his highness the Spanish ambassador, the Duke of Grimaldi.