'Ah, by St. Benedict, to what enchanter have you been apprenticed?' cried the cook in astonishment. 'You have hit all to a hair, and as to the noted herb, we did not know of that ourselves; yes! that must make the dish still more delicious. Oh! you miracle of a cook!' 'I should never have expected this,' said the master-cook, 'but let us make the trial; give him all he asks for, and let him prepare the breakfast.' His orders were obeyed, and the necessary preparations were made on the hearth; but they now found that the dwarf could not reach it. They therefore put two chairs together, laid a slab of marble on them, and asked the little wonder to step up and show his skill. In a large circle stood the cooks, scullions, servants, and others, looking at him in amazement, seeing how readily and quickly he proceeded, and how cleanly and neatly he prepared everything. When he had finished he ordered both dishes to be put to the fire, and to be boiled until he should call out; then he began to count one, two, three, and so on up to five hundred, when he cried out, 'Stop, take them off,' and then invited the head cook to taste them. The taster ordered the scullion to bring him a gold spoon, which he first rinsed in the brook, and then gave it to the head cook. The latter, stepping up to the hearth with a grave mien, took a spoonful, tasted it, and shutting his eyes, smacked his lips with delight, saying, 'Delicious! by the duke's life, delicious! Would you not like to taste a spoonful, Mr. Steward?' The latter, bowing, took the spoon, tasted it, and was beside himself with delight. 'With all due respect to your skill, dear breakfast-maker, you aged and experienced cook, you have never been able to make soup or dumplings so delicious.' The cook also tasted it, shook the dwarf reverentially by the hand, saying, 'My little man, you are a master of your art; yes, that herb "stomach comforter" imparts a peculiar charm to the whole.' At this moment the duke's valet entered the kitchen and informed them that the duke wished his breakfast. The preparations were now dished up on silver, and sent up to the duke; but the head cook took the dwarf to his own room to converse with him. They had scarcely sat down long enough to say half a paternoster when a messenger came and called the head cook to the duke. He quickly put on his best clothes, and followed the messenger. The duke looked well pleased. He had eaten all they had served, and was just wiping his beard as the master-cook entered. 'Master,' said he, 'I have hitherto always been well satisfied with your cooks; but tell me who prepared the breakfast this morning? It never was so delicious since I sat on the throne of my fathers; tell me the name of the cook, that I may send him a ducat as a present.'