As soon, therefore, as the morning had dawned, and the streets became animated, he entered a church and performed his devotions; then he proceeded on his way. The duke (the sovereign of the country) was a notorious _gourmand_, who kept a good table, and sought cooks in all parts of the world. To his palace the dwarf went. When he arrived at the outer gate the porter asked his errand, and began to crack his jokes on him; when he asked for the chief cook they laughed and led him through the inner courts, and wherever he went the servants stood still, looked at him, laughed heartily, and followed him, so that in a short time a great posse of menials of all descriptions crowded up the steps of the palace. The grooms threw away their curry-combs, the running footmen ran with all their might, the carpet-spreaders ceased beating their carpets, all crowded and thronged around him, as though the enemy were at the gates, and the shouts of 'A dwarf, a dwarf! have you seen the dwarf?' filled the air. At this moment the steward of the palace, with a furious countenance and a large whip in his hand, made his appearance at the door, crying, 'For Heaven's sake, ye hounds, what is all this uproar for? Do you not know that our gracious master is still asleep?' At the same time he flourished his whip, laying it rather roughly about the backs of some grooms and porters. 'Why, sir,' they all cried, 'don't you see that we are bringing a dwarf, such a dwarf as you never saw?' The steward suppressed a loud laugh with difficulty when he got sight of the little man, for he was afraid that laughter would take from his dignity. He drove them all away with his whip except the dwarf, whom he led into the house and asked what he wanted. Hearing that the little man wished to see the master of the kitchen, he replied, 'You make a mistake, my little son; I suppose you want to see me, the steward of the palace, do you not? You wish to become dwarf to the duke, is it not so?' 'No, sir,' replied the dwarf, 'I am a clever cook and skilled in the preparation of all sorts of choice meats; be so kind as to bring me to the master of the kitchen; perhaps he may be in want of my skill.' 'Every one according to his wish, my little man; but you are an inconsiderate youth. To the kitchen! why, as the duke's dwarf you would have nothing to do and plenty to eat and drink to your heart's desire, and fine clothes into the bargain. But we shall see; your skill in the culinary art will hardly be such as a cook to the duke is required to possess, and you are too good for a scullion.' As he said the last words he took the dwarf by the hand and conducted him to the apartments of the master of the kitchen. On arriving there the dwarf said, with so deep a bow that his nose touched the floor, 'Gracious sir, are you in want of a skilful cook?'