“I thought it was more than delectable,” the General replied. “Your father was a very lucky man to have such a talented daughter.”
“It is my one talent and I think at the moment the one thing that is saleable.”
The General looked at her in surprise as she went on,
“Papa used to tell me how only the very rich could afford French chefs.”
“That is true,” the General agreed, “but during first the Revolution, then the Napoleonic wars, there was an exodus of private chefs from France when that wretched country had no longer many grands seigneurs to employ them.”
“And Papa also said,” Araminta went on, “that there was great competition in London for French chefs.”
“That is correct” the General agreed. “Of course a number of those who came over here did not wish to go into private service an
