No one had before remarked him in the crowd, for they had been all eyes
and ears for Don Bempo, and hence every one supposed that he had only
just then arrived.
The shrewd chief cook also assumed the appearance of having only
accidentally passed that way without the intention of buying any thing.
But he suddenly stopped before the great fish as if astonished at its
enormous size, and seemed to view it with admiration and delight.
"What a rare and splendid animal is this!" he finally exclaimed with
animation. "Really, one must come to Rome to see such a wonder!"
"That is understood!" exultingly cried the bystanders, who had a
reverence for the fishes of Rome.
"This is no niggard! He will not be so mean as to offer twelve ducats
for such a miracle as this!"
"Twelve ducats!" cried Gianettino, folding his hands. "How can you think
me so pitiful as to offer such a miserable sum for so noble a fish. No,
truly, he must have a bold forehead who would offer so little money for
this splendid animal!"
"Hear him! hear!" cried the people. "This is a learned man. He knows
something of the value of rarities!"
"Viva! Long life to the French cook, il grande ministre della
cucina!"
Gianettino bowed politely in response to the compliment, and then
civilly asked the price of the fish.
The fisherman stood there with an expression of regretful sadness upon
his face. "I fear it will be of little use to name the price!" said he,
"the fish is as good as sold!"
"Nevertheless, name the price!"
"Twenty ducats!"
"Twenty ducats!" exclaimed Gianettino, with an expression of the
liveliest astonishment. "You jest, my friend! How can such a splendid
animal be possibly sold for twenty ducats?"
"Here! hear!" shouted the crowd. "He finds the price too low!"
"He is a real gentleman!"
"He will not buy gudgeons like the Spaniard!"
"In earnest, friend, tell me the price of this fish!" said Gianettino.
"I have demanded twenty ducats for it," sadly responded the fisherman,
"and it is sold for that sum."
"Impossible! In that case it would not be lying here!" replied
Gianettino. "Or had the man paid you the money, and now gone for a cart
for the conveyance of the giant?"
"I have not yet been paid."
"The purchaser, then, has given you earnest money?"
"No, not even that. I have yet received nothing upon it."
"And you can pretend that you have sold this fish," cried Gianettino,
"and that, too, for the ridiculously small sum of twenty ducats! Ah,
you are a joker, my good man; you wish to excite in me a desire for this
rare specimen, and therefore you say it is sold. But how can a fish that
yet lies exposed for sale, and for which no one had made you a suitable
offer, be already sold?"