‘In a moment,’ answered the ogre, and he
changed himself into a mouse.
Instantly the cat was on him and had eaten

im.

Then he walked to the gate of the palace, and
arrived there just as the royal carriage drove up.
‘I wonder whose magnificent palace this is?’ said
the king.

Then the cat ran down the steps, opened the
door of the carriage, and said: ‘Your Majesty—
welcome to the palace of the most noble Marquess
of Carabas.’

‘Why, this is truly a surprise,’ said the king.
‘What a splendid inheritance is yours, Marquis!
Give my daughter your arm. We will pick a
crumb with you, Carabas. I’m vastly hungry with
my drive.’

The miller’s son clumsily offered his arm as
bidden to the princess. Her father nudged her,
and whispered: ‘I also was a great gawky when I
proposed to your mother.’

Then all entered the great hall, and the king
could not contain his surprise and admiration at
all he saw. The cat ran down into the kitchen
and ordered up a cold collation, and into the cellars,
where he chose out the best wines; and the king
said he had never enjoyed his victuals so heartily
as that day. Then turning to the miller’s son, he
said: ‘If you like, Carabas, you shall be my son-
in-law. Say: I adore you—will you be mine? to
the princess. I did that when I solicited the hand
of her mother.’

_ The miller’s son did not wait to be told this a
second time. The princess at once accepted him,
and they were married and lived happily.

The cat became a great lord, and had no occa-
sion to run after and eat mice.

21

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PUSS IN
BOOTS