Page:Mother goose's fairy tales (1).pdf/21

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FAIRY TALES
21

got into the gutter, not without abundance of trouble and danger, because of his boots, which were of no use at all to him in walking upon the tiles. A little while after, when Puss saw that the Ogre had resumed his natural form, he came down, and owned he had been very much frightened.

“I have been moreover informed,” said the cat, “but I know not how to believe it, that you have also the power to take upon you the smallest animal; for example, to charge yourself into a rat or a mouse; but I must own to you, I take this to be impossible.” “Impossible;” cried the Ogre, “you shall see that presently,” and at the same time, changed himself into a mouse, and began to run about the floor. Puss no sooner perceived this, but he fell upon him, and eat him up.

Meanwhile the king, who saw as he passed, this fine castle of the Ogre’s, had a mind to go into it. Puss who heard the noise of his majesty’s coach running over the draw-bridge, ran out and said to the king, “Your majesty is welcome to this castle of my Lord Marquis of Carabas.” “What! My Lord Marquis? cried the king: And does this castle also belong to you? There can be nothing finer than this court, and all the stately buildings which surround it, let us go into it if you please.” The king went up first, the Marquis handing the princess, following; they passed into a spacious hall, where they found a magnificent collation the Ogre had prepared for his friends, who dared not enter, knowing the king was there. His majesty was perfectly charmed with the good qualities of the Marquis, and his daughter was violently in love with him. The king, after having drank five or six glasses, said to him, “My Lord Marquis, you will be only to blame, if you are not my son-in-law.” The Marquis making several low bows, accepted the honour his majesty conferred upon him, and