Manus:  I was not willing to come as a king, that she would feel tied and bound to live for if I live, or to die with if I should die.  I am come as a poor unknown man, that may slip away after the fight, to my own kingdom or across the borders of the world, and no thanks given him and no more about him, but a memory of the shadow of a cook!

Nurse:  I would not think that to be right, and you the last of your race.  It is best for you to tell the King.

Manus:  I lay my orders on you to tell no one at all.

Nurse:  Give me leave but to whisper it to the Princess Nu.  It’s ye would be the finest two the world ever saw.  You will not find her equal in all Ireland!

Manus:  I lay it as crosses and as spells on you to say no word to her or to any other that will make known my race or my name.  Give me now your oath.

Nurse:  (Kneeling.) I do, I do.  But they will know you by your high looks.

Manus:  Did you yourself know me a while ago?

Nurse:  (Getting up.) Oh, they’re coming!  Oh, my poor child, what way will you that never handled a spit be able to make out a dinner for the King?

Manus:  This silver whistle, that was her pipe of music, was given to me by a queen among the Sidhe that is my godmother.  At the sound of it that will come through the air any earthly thing I wish for, at my command.

Nurse:  Let it be a dinner so.

Manus:  So it will come, on a green tablecloth carried by four swans as white as snow.  The freshest of every meat, the oldest of every drink, nuts from the trees in Adam’s Paradise!

(King, Queen, Princess, Dall Glic come in.  Princess sits on window sill.)

Queen:  (To King.) Here now, my dear.  Wasn’t I telling you I would take all trouble from your mind, and that I would not be without finding a cook for you?

King:  He came in a good hour.  The want of a right dinner has downed kingdoms before this.

Queen:  Travelling he is in search of service from the kings of the earth.  His wages are in no way out of measure.

King:  Is he a good hand at his trade?

Queen:  Honest he is, I believe, and ready to give a hand here and there.

King:  What way does he handle flesh, I’d wish to know?  And all that comes up from the tide?  Bream, now; that is a fish is very pleasant to me—­stewed or fried with butter till the bones of it melt in your mouth.  There is nothing in sea or strand but is the better of a quality cook—­only oysters, that are best left alone, being as they are all gravy and fat.

Queen:  I didn’t question him yet about cookery.

King:  It’s seldom I met a woman with right respect for food, but for show and silly dishes and trash that would leave you in the finish as dwindled as a badger on St. Bridget’s day.