'You are a wonderful cook,' replied the prince, 'and know what good living is. All the time I have been here you have not repeated a single dish, and have prepared everything exquisitely. But pray tell me, why have you not all this time prepared that queen of dishes, the pie called "souzeraine"?' The dwarf was startled at this question, for he had never heard of this queen of pies; however, he recovered himself and replied, 'My lord, I was in hopes that your serene countenance would shine some time yet on this court, therefore I deferred this dish; for with what dish but the queen of pies should the cook honour the day of your departure?' 'Indeed!' said the duke, laughing, 'I suppose then you wish to wait for the day of my death to honour me, for you have never yet sent it up to me. But think of another dish to celebrate the departure, for to-morrow that pie must be on the table.' 'Your pleasure shall be done, my lord,' replied the dwarf, and retired. But he went away uneasy, for the day of his disgrace and misfortune had come. He did not know how to prepare this pie. He went therefore to his chamber and wept over his fate, when the goose Mimi, who was allowed to walk about, came up and inquired the cause of his grief. When she heard of the pie, 'Dry your tears,' said she, 'this dish often came to my father's table, and I know pretty well what is necessary for it; you have only to take such and such things in certain quantities, and should these not be all that are really necessary, I trust that the taste of these gentlemen is not sufficiently refined to discover the deficiency.' At these words the dwarf danced with joy, blessed the day on which he had purchased the goose, and set about making this queen of pies. He first made a trial in miniature, and lo! the flavour was exquisite, and the master-cook, to whom he gave the small pie to taste, praised his great skill once more. The following day he prepared the pie on a larger scale, and, after having garnished it with flowers, sent it hot as it came from the oven to table. After which he dressed in his best and went to the dining-hall. On entering he found the steward engaged in carving the pie, and presenting it on silver dishes to the duke and his guest. The duke swallowed a large piece, turned his eyes upward, saying 'Ha! ha! ha! justly is this called the queen of pies; but my dwarf is also a king of cooks. Is it not so, my friend?' His guest took a small morsel, tasted it carefully, and smiled somewhat scornfully and mysteriously. 'The thing is made pretty well,' he replied, pushing his plate away, 'but it is not quite the Souzeraine, as I well imagined.' At this the duke frowned with indignation, and turned red, saying, 'You hound of a dwarf, how dare you do this to your lord? I will have your big head cut off as a punishment for your bad cooking.'