"And bread, too, from his house," cried the princess, laughing immoderately.
"Yes, madame," replied Kaunitz, gravely, "I eat no bread but that of my own baker."
"Oh," replied the gay young princess. "I am not surprised at your taking such wondrous good care of yourself; what astonishes me is, that you should be allowed to enjoy such privileges in a house that is not your own. Why, Louis XIV. could not have been more exacting when he condescended to dine with a subject!"
Kaunitz raised his cold blue eyes so as to meet the look of the bold speaker. "Madame," said he, "Louis XIV. was Louis XIV., and I am Kaunitz."
So saying, he took a glass of water from HIS fountain, and ate a piece of bread from HIS baker. He then leaned back in his chair and took an animated part in the conversation.
This was only because thereby he knew that he would dazzle his hearers by speaking English, French, Italian, or Spanish, as occasion required.
The dinner was at an end and dessert came on the table. Of course Kaunitz refused to partake of it; but while the other guests were enjoying their confections, he took advantage of a pause in the conversation, to say to his pretty neighbor:
"Now, princess, that the company have enjoyed THEIR dessert, I shall take the liberty of ordering MINE."
"Ah! you have your own dessert?" asked the princess, while the guests listened to hear what was coming.
"I have," said Kaunitz. "I have brought my dessert, of course.
Hippolyte, my etui."