South of France | Page 6

that you are only fit
to keep a low eating-house."

As there is nothing more irritable than the feelings of a culinary artist, I
was expecting a sharp answer; but just then the advocate came in. He
had heard the end of our dialogue, and told me that not only would the
man find plenty of witnesses to his skill, but that I should find a very
great difficulty in getting anybody at all to swear to his want of skill.
"That may be," I replied, "but as I stick to my own opinion, and think
his cooking horrible, he must go, for I want to get another, and I will
pay that fellow as if he had served me the whole time."
"That won't do," said the cook; "I will summon you before the judge
and demand damages for defamation of character."
At this my bile overpowered me, and I was going to seize him anti
throw him out of the window, when Don Antonio Grimaldi came in.
When he heard what was the matter, he laughed and said, with a shrug
of his shoulders,
"My dear sir, you had better not go into court, or you will be cast in
costs, for the evidence is against you. Probably this man makes a slight
mistake in believing himself to be an excellent cook, but the chief
mistake is in the agreement, which ought to have stipulated that he
should cook a trial dinner. The person who drew up the agreement is
either a great knave or a great fool."
At this Possano struck in in his rude way, and told the nobleman that he
was neither knave nor fool.
"But you are cousin to the cook," said the landlady.
This timely remark solved the mystery. I paid and dismissed the
advocate, and having sent the cook out of the room I said,
"Do I owe you any money, Possano?"
"On the contrary, you paid me a month in advance, and there are ten
more days of the month to run."

"I will make you a present of the ten days and send you away this very
moment, unless your cousin does not leave my house to-day, and give
you the foolish engagement which you signed in my name."
"That's what I call cutting the Gordian knot," said M. Grimaldi.
He then begged me to introduce him to the lady he had seen with me,
and I did so, telling him she was my niece.
"Signora Isola-Bella will be delighted to see her."
"As the marquis did not mention her in his letter, I did not take the
liberty of bringing her."
The marquis left a few moments afterwards, and soon after Annette
came in with her mother. The girl had developed in an incredible
manner while I was away. Her cheeks blossomed like the rose, her
teeth were white as pearls, and her breasts, though modestly concealed
from view, were exquisitely rounded. I presented her to her mistress,
whose astonishment amused me.
Annette, who looked pleased to be in my service again, went to dress
her new mistress; and, after giving a few sequins to the mother I sent
her away, and proceeded to make my toilette.
Towards noon, just as I was going out with my niece to dine at
Rosalie's, my landlady brought me the agreement Possano had made,
and introduced the new cook. I ordered the next day's dinner, and went
away much pleased with my comic victory.
A brilliant company awaited us at the Paretti's, but I was agreeably
surprised on introducing my niece to Rosalie to see them recognize
each other. They called each other by their respective names, and
indulged in an affectionate embrace. After this they retired to another
room for a quarter of an hour, and returned looking very happy. Just
then Paretti entered, and on Rosalie introducing him to my niece under
her true name he welcomed her in the most cordial manner. Her father
was a correspondent of his, and drawing a letter he had just received

from him from his pocket, he gave it to her to read. My niece read it
eagerly, with tears in her eyes, and gave the signature a respectful
pressure with her lips. This expression of filial love, which displayed
all the feelings of her heart, moved me to such an extent that I burst
into tears. Then taking Rosalie aside, I begged her to ask her husband
not to mention the fact to his correspondent that he had seen his
daughter.
The dinner was excellent, and Rosalie did the honours with that grace
which was natural to her. However, the guests did not by any means
pay her all their attentions, the greater portion of which was diverted in
the direction of my supposed niece.