text: [Themes: Fantasy, France, male protagonist, fantasy, Historical, culinary theme]
  
  > look around
  A small, workmanlike room with a floor of white stones. The principal features of the room are a counter, with a large inset washbasin also made of stone, and a tall wooden cupboard.
  
  You can see a puddle of mead and some glass shards here.
  
  > Go south
  (treading gingerly around the glass bits)
  
  A long, cross-beamed room, originally washed with white, though smoke has tinged the walls above the massive fireplace in which roasts are prepared. In addition, there are thick high tables that run the length of the room.
  
  To the east is the kitchen garden through which you entered; west is the corridor that connects with the main house. To the north there is the little scullery, and upstairs is the attic where the servants sleep.
  
  On the kitchen tables are a loaf of stale bread and a delicate contraption (in which are some andouillettes).
  
  > look at contraption
  The body of the contraption is mostly just a large box, into which things can be put, and an assembly of clockwork parts in a separate case, not to be interfered with. There is also a dial which may be set to various positions, and a spindle, on which is a cylinder with a pattern of strange bumps on it, labeled "Andouillettes Recipe".
  
  The delicate contraption is currently switched off.
  
  In the delicate contraption are some andouillettes.
  
  > take Andouillettes Recipe
  (putting the jeweled pin into the sack to make room)
  It takes a bit of wiggling to get the cylinder to come free, but you extricate it without too much difficulty.
  
  > put Tea Recipe on spindle
  The cylinder slips into place with a satisfying click, as though some mechanism has engaged.
  
  > turn on the contraption
  There is a regretful clicking noise from the vicinity of the lid-catch. Just as you think you are going to have to close it yourself, a gloved mechanical hand reaches up and slams the contraption shut from the inside.
  
  The machine's gears spin into action; a series of fine flanges, like the keys of a music box, move into position against the surface of the cylinder, which rotates steadily. An irritable mechanical voice shouts from within, "I shall be requiring the cup in which to put this item!"
  
  > put the cup in the contraption
  (first taking the cup)
  Taken.
  
  (first opening the delicate contraption)
  You open the contraption, revealing some andouillettes.
  You put the cup into the delicate contraption.
  
  > turn on the contraption
  There is a regretful clicking noise from the vicinity of the lid-catch. Just as you think you are going to have to close it yourself, a gloved mechanical hand reaches up and slams the contraption shut from the inside.
  
  The machine's gears spin into action; a series of fine flanges, like the keys of a music box, move into position against the surface of the cylinder, which rotates steadily. From inside the box comes a plaintive mechanical voice which declares, "Monsieur le Chef!! You need more! water!!!"
  
  The mechanism whirrs a moment longer before its functioning gives out.
  
  > touch Recipe
  (the Andouillettes Recipe)
  You run a finger reverently over the pattern of bumps and grooves, so artfully inscribed.
  
  > Open contraption
  You open the contraption, revealing a cup.
  
  > take the cup
  (putting the small portrait into the sack to make room)
  Taken.
  
  > turn Recipe
  (the Andouillettes Recipe)
  Nothing obvious happens.
  
  > take the teapot
  (putting the rug into the sack to make room)
  Taken.
  
  > examine the teapot
  A hinge-lidded teapot, glossed in white and decorated with the crest of the family, just as though it belonged to the family china pattern. The lid is attached with a hinge, and there is a long and delicate spout.
  
  > fill the cup with the water
  You put some water in the cup. This fills the cup to the brim.
  
  > go west
  A long, cross-beamed room, originally washed with white, though smoke has tinged the walls above the massive fireplace in which roasts are prepared. In addition, there are thick high tables that run the length of the room.
  
  To the east is the kitchen garden through which you entered; west is the corridor that connects with the main house. To the north there is the little scullery, and upstairs is the attic where the servants sleep.
  
  On the kitchen tables are a loaf of stale bread and a delicate contraption (which is empty).
  
  > read Recipe
  (the Andouillettes Recipe)
  Andouillettes Recipe: andouillettes, olive oil, dry white wine,
  single yellow onion, sea-salt.
  
  > read Recipe
  (the Andouillettes Recipe)
  Andouillettes Recipe: andouillettes, olive oil, dry white wine,
  single yellow onion, sea-salt.
  
  In your hunger, you hallucinate thinly-sliced venison. Or perhaps the hearts of artichokes.
  
  > read the Guide to the Wines
  (first taking Guide to Assorted Wines)
  
  (putting the stone block into the sack to make room)
  Taken.
  
  ... from the region of Avignon, in the territories that belonged
  to the Pope, comes the peppery red Chateauneuf du Pape...
  
  > read Tea Recipe
  The label is smudged and illegible.
  
  > put the cup in the contraption
  You put the cup into the delicate contraption.
  
  > Open contraption
  You open the contraption, revealing a cup, inside which is some water.
  
  > put water in the cup in contraption
  You put some water in the delicate contraption, exhausting the supply in the cup. There is still some room remaining in the delicate contraption.
  
  > put the water in the teapot in the contraption
  You put some water in the delicate contraption, exhausting the supply in the hinge-lidded teapot. There is still some room remaining in the delicate contraption. The water mixes with what was already there.
  
  > turn on the contraption
  There is a regretful clicking noise from the vicinity of the lid-catch. Just as you think you are going to have to close it yourself, a gloved mechanical hand reaches up and slams the contraption shut from the inside.
  
  The machine's gears spin into action; a series of fine flanges, like the keys of a music box, move into position against the surface of the cylinder, which rotates steadily. From inside the box comes a plaintive mechanical voice which declares, "Monsieur le Chef!! You cannot make an intinction without something to, how-you-say, steep!"
  
  > put the mint in the contraption
  (first taking the sprig of mint)
  Taken.
  
  (first opening the delicate contraption)
  You open the contraption, revealing a cup and a great deal of water. You put the sprig of mint into the delicate contraption.
  
  The sprig of mint bobs to the surface of the water.
  
  > turn on the contraption
  There is a regretful clicking noise from the vicinity of the lid-catch. Just as you think you are going to have to close it yourself, a gloved mechanical hand reaches up and slams the contraption shut from the inside.
  
  The machine's gears spin into action; a series of fine flanges, like the keys of a music box, move into position against the surface of the cylinder, which rotates steadily. There is a bubbling, boiling noise from within the contraption.
  
  > Open contraption
  You open the contraption, revealing a cup, inside which is some mint tea.
  
  > take it
  You might spill the mint tea.
  
  > drink Tea
  (the mint tea)
  You upend the cup and take a sip of the mint tea, leaving only another few sips. Unmistakeably pepperminty.
  
  > search the fireplace
  The fireplace is empty.
  
  In your hunger, you imagine in great clarity onion soup. Or perhaps creme caramel.
  
  > go to the east
  You'll have to get out of the fireplace first.
  
  > cut the brick with the knife
  (first taking the butcher knife)
  It's just an ordinary knife, not diamond-edged.
  
  > go west
  Originally a salon for the receiving of guests; but in recent years the Count has become increasingly interested in his own projects, and has taken over the entire room for the storage of books. Bookshelves line the walls, reaching above your head, leaving exits only east and south.
  
  The clockwork model universe has stopped; a beam of light from the "sun" at the center, focused through Jupiter, shines in the direction of the shelves, highlighting a spot where The World Is Hollow
  used to be.
  
  On one wall is an enormous portrait of the Count's father, from the hand of Hyacinthe Rigaud.
  
  > look at the portrait
  (the framed portrait)
  The old man appears to stand in a vague, ruddy landscape; all the artist's attention was spared for his clothing, which is rendered in shimmering detail, lustrous silks and fur, and for the giant bi-partite mound of wig on his head, whose curls fall over each shoulder.
  
  Something about the framed portrait tickles your recollection.
  
  > remember the portrait
  (the framed portrait)
  
  ...
  
  "He can make links," the Countess hissed. Neither of them saw
  you in the doorway of the library.
  
  "Anabelle--"
  
  "And don't tell me that your father strayed into some peasant's bed in his dotage, because I have seen Pierre's mother and she is
  not old enough to--"
  
  "Anabelle, calm yourself." He put a hand on her shoulder, spoke in his voice of diplomacy.
  
  "Now you will tell me that he is some by-blow of someone passing through the village, I suppose? Some guest of ours, perhaps?" she asked bitterly. "I wondered why you were so ready to accept him--"
  
  "I swear to you, Pierre is no son of mine. Nor, I think, is he any relative of ours for many generations. It is possible that these things appear sportively even among the lesser classes, you know..."
  
  She shrugged his hand away. "There's something you aren't telling me," she said. "I always know it, you say so yourself."
  
  He sighed. "I will tell you, Ana, but it is not what you think..."
  
  ...
  
  > take the portrait
  (the framed portrait)
  The portrait is doubtless worth a good deal, but it is also taller than you are.
  
  > examine the frame
  The frame is carved with fruits and lightly gilded.