A SHOEMAKER AND HIS SERVANT
gracious lord and father, this is indeed not Prince Dardavan, but our shoemaker Goria Krutshinin." "Don't talk nonsense," said Mistafor; "I have seen Prince Dardavan face to face, and know him well; this is the Prince, and no shoemaker indeed."
"Well and good," said Dogada; "I will go and welcome him but only bear in mind what I say: it is not Prince Dardavan, but out shoemaker Goria, disguised like him. Now mind one thing: when we sit down at table to eat, order white bread and brown bread to be brought him; and if you observe that this guest cuts first a piece of the brown bread you will know that he is not Prince Dardavan but the shoemaker Goria, for Dardavan always eats first the white bread."
"Good," said Mistafor, "I will observe."
Then he invited Goria the shoemaker to sit down at table; and, when they were all seated, and white and brown bread was brought, Goria first took of the brown bread, and Mistafor and Dogada remarked this. Then said Mistafor: "My dear and honoured son-in-law, Prince Dardavan, how is it that you cut so much brown bread and no white?"
When the servant Prituitshkin heard this, he went invisibly up to Goria and whispered in his ear: "Tell Mistafor that your father, when he sat at table, always gave first to the poor a piece of bread
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