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No one had before remarked him in the crowd, for they had been all eyes

and ears for Don Bempo, and hence every one supposed that he had only

just then arrived

The shrewd chief cook also assu only

accidentally passed that ithout the intention of buying any thing

But he suddenly stopped before the great fish as if astonished at its

enorht

"What a rare and splendid animal is this!" he finally exclaimed with

animation "Really, one must come to Roly cried the bystanders, who had a

reverence for the fishes of Roard! He will not be so mean as to offer twelve ducats

for such ahis hands "How can you think

me so pitiful as to offer such a miserable sum for so noble a fish No,

truly, he must have a bold forehead ould offer so little money for

this splendid animal!"

"Hear him! hear!" cried the people "This is a learnedof the value of rarities!"

"Viva! Long life to the French cook, il grande ministre della

cucina!"

Gianettino bowed politely in response to the compliment, and then

civilly asked the price of the fish

The fisherretful sadness upon