"This fish is mine," he wildly cried, "I was the first to offer its
price, I offered twenty ducats, and only went home to get the money!"
"And I," exclaimed Signor Gianettino, "I offered thirty-six ducats, and
immediately paid the cash, as I always have money by me."
"It is Signor Gianettino, the cook of the French ambassador, and I am
ruined!" groaned Don Bempo, staggering back.
"Yes, it is the cook of his excellency the cardinal!" cried the crowd.
"And the cardinal is an honorable man!"
"He is no Spanish niggard!"
"He does not haggle for a giant fish; he pays more than is demanded!"
"I hope," said Signor Gianettino to Don Bempo, who still convulsively
grasped the fish, "that you will now take your hands from my property
and leave me to go my way without further hindrance. It is not noble to
lay hands on the goods of another, Don Bempo, and this fish is mine!"
"But this is contrary to all international law!" exclaimed the enraged
Don Bempo. "You forget, signor, that you insult my master, that you
insult Spain, by withholding from me by main force what I have purchased
in the name of Spain."
"France will never stand second to Spain!" proudly responded
Gianettino, "and where Spain _offers_ twenty ducats, France _pays_
six-and-thirty!--Forward, my youngsters! To the kitchen of the French
ambassador!"
And urgently pushing back Don Bempo, Gianettino solemnly marched through
the crowd with his retinue, the people readily making a path for him and
cheering him as he went.
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