"It was not paid for, but was ordered, and my servant had gone home for
the money."
"As long as it was not paid for, no one could have any claim upon it."
"You are, then, disposed to dispute the fish with me?" cried the duke.
"Should I dispute it," smilingly responded the cardinal, "that would
be the equivalent to a recognition of your right to it, which I have no
idea of making. Besides, my friend, what does this quarrel of our cooks
concern us, and what has Spain and France to do with these disputes of
our servants? They may fight out their own quarrels with each other; let
us give them leave to do so, and if they give each other bloody heads,
very well, we will bind them up, that is all!"
"You take the affair with your usual practical indifference," said the
duke with bitterness, "and I can only regret being compelled to look
at it in a different light. The question here is not of a difficulty
between our servants, but of an insult which Spain has received from
France in the face of all Rome. Yes, all Rome has witnessed this insult,
and these miserable Romans have even dared to dishonor us with irony and
satire, and to mock and deride Spain, while they overload you with their
praises!"
"The good Romans, as you know, are like children. This contest of our
cooks has delighted them, and they shouted a viva to the conqueror.
But I beg you not to forget that I have nothing to do with the victories
of my cook."
"But I have something to do with the defeats of mine! Whoever insults
my servants insults me; and whoever insults me, insults the kingdom I
represent--insults Spain! It is therefore in the name of Spain that I
demand satisfaction. Spain has a right to this fish! I demand my right,
I demand the surrender of the fish!"
"If you take this matter in earnest," said the cardinal, "then am I
sorry to be compelled also to be serious! If Spain can find offence in
the fact that France has bought a fish which is too dear for the Spanish
cook, I cannot see how I can here make satisfaction, as we cannot be
taxed with any fault."
"You refuse me the fish, then?" exclaimed the duke, bursting with rage.
"As you say that all Rome knows of this affair, and takes an interest in
it, I cannot act otherwise. It must not have the appearance that
France feels herself less great and powerful than Spain; that France
pusillanimously yields when Spain makes an unjust demand!"
"That is to say, you wish to break off all friendly relations with us?"
"And can those relations be seriously endangered by this affair?"
asked the cardinal with vivacity. "Is it possible that this trifling
misunderstanding between two servants can exercise an influence upon
a long-cherished friendship and harmony of two powers whose relations,
whether friendly or otherwise, may uphold or destroy the peace of
Europe?"