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They were telling one another of all the places where they had

been waddling about all the morning, and what good food they had

found; and one said in a pitiful tone: 'Something lies heavy on

my stomach; as I was eating in haste I swallowed a ring which lay

under the queen's window.' The servant at once seized her by the

neck, carried her to the kitchen, and said to the cook: 'Here is

a fine duck; pray, kill her.' 'Yes,' said the cook, and weighed

her in his hand; 'she has spared no trouble to fatten herself,

and has been waiting to be roasted long enough.' So he cut off

her head, and as she was being dressed for the spit, the queen's

ring was found inside her.