Gaining the attention of those about him, he took up one of the fish and held it to his ear and asked it: "Little fish, do you know anything about my brother?" and then placed it down again.
Then he took a second fish and asked: "Little fish, do you know anything about my brother?" Again he laid it down and took up a third.
The young people about him burst into laughter, so funny did Palecek look while doing this. The King asked what was amusing them.
"If it please Your Majesty," one of them answered, "Brother Palecek is conversing with the fish."
"Brother Palecek," said the King, "what are you doing?"
"Brother King," replied Palecek, "I'll tell you. I had a brother fisherman who was drowned in the river. So I am asking these little fish if they know anything about him."
"And what do they tell you?" asked the King.
"They tell me," returned Palecek, "that they're still too young and small to know anything about it, but that I'd better ask those bigger, older fish that are on your table."
The King laughed and ordered the largest fish of all to be placed on a dish and given to Palecek. These the jester accepted gracefully and shared, amid general good cheer, with all at his table.