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"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, e are in the right, we ht," said the

cardinal, after a pause, "and as the affair is known to all Roh 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 hed 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 co, and that it is richly ornamented If Rome has heard of the

fish, so also nor

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 s my friendship with the Duke of Gri for his body-servant, whom he ordered to dress

hi called to this

service at so unusual an hour

"No, house toilet!" said the cardinal "I shall soon receive visitors"