.

Your Highness, I beg your humble pardon.
But there's no disrespect intended.

And anyhow, you know you are.' 'Why, now, what am I to say ?' replied Otto.

'You are a cook, and excellently well you do it; I embrace the chance of thanking you for the ragout.

Well now, have you not seen good food so bedevilled by unskilful cookery that no one could be brought to eat the pudding?
That is me, my dear.