But the prime-minister was as sour about it all as a crab-apple.
All the time they were feasting he kept whispering and whispering
in the king's ear. "It is all stuff and nonsense," said he, "for
such a man as Jacob Stuck to do all this by himself. I tell you,
it is all a piece of good luck, and not a bit of merit in it."
He whispered and whispered, until at last the king up and spoke.
"Tell me, Jacob Stuck," he said, "where do you get all these fine
things?"
"It all comes of a piece of good luck," said Jacob Stuck.
"That is what I told you," said the prime-minister.
"A piece of good luck!" said the king. "Where did you come across
such a piece of good luck?"
"I found it," said Jacob Stuck.
"Found it!" said the king; "and have you got it with you now?"
"Yes, I have," said Jacob Stuck; "I always carry it about with
me;" and he thrust his hand into his pocket and brought out his
piece of blue crystal.
"That!" said the king. "Why, that is nothing but a piece of blue
glass!"
"That," said Jacob Stuck, "is just what I thought till I found
out better. It is no common piece of glass, I can tell you. You
just breathe upon it so, and rub your thumb upon it thus, and
instantly a Genie dressed in red comes to do all that he is
bidden. That is how it is."
"I should like to see it," said the king.
"So you shall," said Jacob Stuck; "here it is," said he; and he
reached it across the table to the prime-minister to give it to
the king.
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