68 THE HISTORY OF A NUT-CRACKER.

mous fire was made with
sandal-wood ; the queen
put on her kitchen apron
of white damask, and in
a short time delicious
odours steamed from the
cauldron. Those sweet
perfumes spread through
the passages, penetrated
into all the rooms, and
om ss} reached the throne-room
a where the king was hold-
ing a privy councu. The king was
very fond of good eating, and the
smell made a profound impression
upon him. Nevertheless, as he was
a wise prince, and was famed for his
habits of self-command, he resisted
for a long time the feeling which
attracted him towards the kitchens:
but at last, in spite of the command
which he exercised over himself, he
was compelled to yield to the inclina-
tion that now ruled him.
‘‘My lords and gentlemen,” he
accordingly said, rising from his §
io throne, “with
AP your permission I will retire for a
few moments; pray wait for me.”
Then this great king hastened
through the passages and corridors
to the kitchen, embraced his wife
tenderly, stirred the contents of the
cauldron with his golden sceptre,
and tasted them with the tip of his
tongue. Having thus calmed his