"Ah, you are a cook? But tell me, you have spoken to me of paying me the tribute of your admiration and of offering me your services, where were you acquainted with me?"
"You have, sir, during your sojourn in Madrid, often dined with the ambassador of France."
"Oh, yes, that was my good time," replied Dom Diégo, with sadness. "I rendered ample justice to the table of the ambassador of France, and I have proclaimed the fact that I knew of no better practitioner than his chef."
"And this illustrious practitioner, with whom, my lord, I am in correspondence, that we may mutually keep pace with the progress of the science, has written to me to express his joy at having been so worthily appreciated by a connoisseur like yourself. I had taken note of your name, and yesterday, learning by chance that you were in search of a cook, I come to have the honour of offering you my services."
"And from whom do you come, my friend?"
"For ten years, my lord, I have worked only for myself, that is to say, for art. I have a modest fortune, but enough, so it is not a mercenary motive which brings me to you, sir."
"But why do you offer your services to me, rather than to some one else?"
"Because, being free to choose, I consult my convenience; because I am very jealous, my lord, horribly jealous."
"Jealous; and of what?"
"Of my master's fidelity."