"But you must have expected me, since in no ten minutes which I have been here could this sumptuous spread be placed." And the princess glanced at Labrie as much as to say: "With only one servant, too?"
"I did expect your royal highness," faltered the baron; "of your coming being apprised."
"If your son did not inform you by letter, then it must have been some fairy—I suppose, the godmother of your daughter."
"It was not so much a fairy, as a magician," said Taverney, offering a seat to the princess. "I do not know anything about how he has done this, as I do not dabble in magic, but I owe it to him that I am fitly entertaining your highness."
"Then I will have none of it. It is contrary to the faith—but his eminence is going to sin, with that liver-pie!"
"We are rather too worldly, we princes of the Church," replied the gentleman in black, "to believe the celestial wrath poisons victuals, and we are too human to visit ill on magicians who provide such good things."
"But I assure your eminence that this is a real sorcerer who conjured up this board ready spread, and who may have produced the gold of this service in the same manner."
"Does he know of the stone which changes all into gold?" questioned the churchman, with his eyes kindling with covetousness.
"This pleases the cardinal, who has passed his life seeking the philosopher's stone," said the princess.