CONCERNING A HUMP 79

of two other high officials should also be
ascertained, and this was accordingly done.
In that court the keeper of the King’s flannel-
waistcoats had always occupied a prominent
position, and to him, together with the chief
cleaner of the royal shoes, the question was
referred. To the inexpressible joy of the
young Prince, these two Ministers declared
that they saw no harm in his visiting the
show, and it was therefore decided that he
should do so.

He dressed himself in a coat, waistcoat,
and trousers, which were all garments not
unfrequently worn by the young men of that
age and country, and sallied forth with only
two attendants, who accompanied him when
he entered the first caravan belonging to the
show. The Prince visited all the caravans in
turn, and expressed much curiosity and
pleasure at the sight of the various animals
which were displayed to his admiring gaze.
But when he had arrived at the last caravan
he was more than ever desirous to see what
it contained, for this was the abode of the
magician. His attendants endeavoured to
dissuade him from entering, telling him that
although it was all very well to go and see