Evening star., 1937-12-26

LII kitASS oAxA - fAsAA~~ s~---sAo
soNrnuets.
He had recognized the impassioned
gentleman in tweeds as his extremely
gracious highness, Prince Eugen Maxi
milan Laslo Maria Altenheim. native
us austria, at home wherever there
were good food. good wine. pretty
women. and civilized living.
"Highness: HoAeii." he said, in a
voice thick with emotion. "Hokeit
does me an extreme honor thus to
speak to me. Hoheit is perhaps under
some illusion. l had not intended to
address my remark to Hoksit: had
not 50 presumed: nevertheless. stand
by it. Hoheit does not recognize me.
but Hoheit has done me the honor to
recognize my art am Meyer"
As he said this be remembered that
his name was Won Meyerdorf, but that
it was Meyer who had been called the
master" ''the Incompatible" His
Highness's face beamed. He stepped
as close to the master Of Birkenbach
as the water would allow.
Meyer he cried. Incredible!
Where have you been? Why did you
leave Muller's S? And what in the world
~are you doing out in that boat? Don't
the fishmongers deliver you fresh
enough trout these days?"
"Hoken will be astonished. said
Herr Meyer humbly. Fortune came
my way. l am no longer a cook" An
inspiration came to him in that mo-
ment. 'Hoheit will, l am sure, under
stand. Once it was pleasure to cook
for the patrons of MIller's. One does
not cook for wage. however princely.
One must cook tor an appreciative
palate. In these benighted days the
patrons of Muller's cannot distinguish
an omslette from a somtRS: to them all
goose liver is pate de fol gras. And so
Hoheit'' - and he hung his head in
shame II have bought this estate
and become a gentleman
- Good heavens, then l am, no
doubt, trespassing upon your land!'
Il am honored." Meyer made as
deep bow as the boat would allow.
And then he drew himself up. He
even looked down. ever so slightly,
upon the gracious Presence. "Hohe't
is prince" he said. land I am cook;
aware of it. and proud of it. Would
Hohen do me the honor of allowing me
to prepare for him luncheon today?
Meyer" said his Highness. that
is the most humane suggestion which
has been made to me since the be-
ginning of the war"
While his Highness waited in the
salon, the master of Birkenbach was
saying to the mistress OF Bukenbach,
"Now, my treasure, my dumb one, my
idiot - we have a guest. You know
who he is? He is none of your barons
or counts, but a prince: a prince OF
Austria. And you know why he comes?
Eh? Because your husband is an
artist. Because cook.
'And now you will do what l tell
you to do. exactly. You will 60 down
with me to the salon. l shall intro
duce you to his Hobeit, and you will
say how charmed you are to put our
lake, our home, at his disposal. And
then you will absent yourself.
$In precisely one hour, Hoheit will
lunch in the conservatory, at small
table by himself. you understand?
And this minute go to the kitchen to
cook the lunch" He turned at the door
ITO say, IF a man can make better
mousetrap yes. or ertpes suzette -
than his neighbor, the world will find
its way to his door. knowledge of the
philosophers lends US hope in the dark
est moments"
And because Minna was, after all,
good wife, and because her spirit had
been humbled, she obeyed.
In an hour his Highness was drink
ing old Chambertin. and eating a
partridge from whose plump breast
the rosy stream most satisfactorily
oozed. He was already comfortable
-->..-l m horo l,oos,vroo and vac