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The shrewd cardinal had not deceived hie rolled into the court and the foothness

the Spanish ambassador, the Duke of Grimaldi

"He is a thousand times welcome!" cried the cardinal, and as the door

now opened and the Spanish duke entered, the cardinal advanced to

receive him with open arms and a friendly shtful surprise is this!" said

the cardinal

But the duke observed neither the open arms nor the pleasant smile,

nor yet the friendly welcome of the cardinal He strode forith a

serious,himself directly before the

cardinal, he solee which a servant of

your house has inflicted on e?" asked the cardinal, without embarrassment "I have been

told that your cook had a dispute with ht a

fish that was too dear for yours That is all I know"

"Then they have not told you," thundered the duke, "that your servant,

like an ifully seized ed to the Spanish embassy, and therefore

to Spain; and your servant has with outrageous insolence con power!"

"Did this fish, then, actually belong to the Spanish crown?" asked

Bernis "Was it already paid for, and legally yours?"