THE HISTORY OF A NUT-CRACKER. 18

The mechanic thereupon explained to the king the result
of his consultation with the astrologer.

‘¢ T knew perfectly well, Master
Drosselmayer,” said the king, ‘“ that
all your delay was only through ob-
stinacy. It is, however, settled at
last; and after dinner we will set
to work. Take care, then, dearest
mechanic, to have the young man
, Who has never been shaved, and
~ who wears boots, in readiness in
ten minutes, together with the nut
SN Crackatook. Let him, moreover,

abstain from drinking wine for the
SN next hour, for fear he should stum-
ble while walking backwards like a
crab; but when once it is all over,
tell him that he is welcome to my whole cellar, and may
get as tipsy as he chooses.”

But, to the great astonishment of the king, Master Dros-
selmayer seemed quite frightened at these words ; and, as
he held his tongue, the king insisted upon knowing why he
remained silent and motionless instead of hastening to exe-
cute the orders of his sovereign.

“Sire,” replied the mechanician, throwing himself on his
knees before the king, ‘it is perfectly true that we have
found out the means of curing Princess Pilipata, and that
those means consist of her eating a Crackatook nut when it
shall have been cracked by a young man who has never been
shaved, and who has always worn boots; but we have not
as yet either the young man or the nut—we know not where
to find them, and in all probability we shall have the greatest
difficulty in discovering both the nut and the nut-cracker.”

At these words, the king brandished his sceptre above
the head of the mechanician, crying, ‘‘Then hasten to the
scaffold !”