Accordingly, the hour being arrived, he conducted them to the hotel
where the physician lodged, after having regaled their expectations
with an elegant meal in the genuine old Roman taste; and they were
received by Mr. Pallet, who did the honours of the house, while his
friend superintended the cook below. By this communicative painter,
the guests understood that the doctor had met with numerous
difficulties in the execution of his design; that no fewer than
five cooks had been dismissed, because they could not prevail upon
their own consciences to obey his directions in things that were
contrary to the present practice of their art; and that although
he had at last engaged a person, by an extraordinary premium, to
comply with his orders, the fellow was so astonished, mortified,
and incensed at the commands he had received, that his hair stood on
end, and he begged on his knees to be released from the agreement
he had made; but finding that his employer insisted upon the
performance of his contract, and threatened to introduce him to
the commissaire if he should flinch from the bargain, he had, in
the discharge of his office, wept, sang, cursed, and capered for
two whole hours without intermission.
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