which had brought them together. Furious at their conduct, the Princess ordered them all to be hanged, which had the effect of making them all of one opinion, this time at least.
Next day an edict was posted on the walls of all the cities in the kingdom, announcing that each day, in alphabetical order, ten citizens, men and women, should be hung, and that the extermination should be continued until the Blue Cat was found and brought to the Princess.
"The sky was dotted with balloons."
The consternation was extreme. In all directions the streams became swollen with the tears that were shed to such a degree as to threaten an inundation in several parts of the kingdom, and the wind was drowned in the sounds of the cries forced from the despair which such a tyranny excited. The boldest spoke in low tones of revolt which, in the times of the fairies, was a thing unheard of.
It was then that a young man, well made and of distinguished bearing, took a violent resolution. His name was Brisloün, and he desired to save his country, his fellow citizens, and himself. Possibly he had a wish even beyond all this. With this purpose he went to the house of the Prime Minister, who, before being hung next day (his name beginning with an A), was in a very bad temper, and very little disposed to receive visitors. However, a message given by the young man having been conveyed to him, reawakened in the diplomatist's downcast soul a gleam of hope. He ordered the stranger to be shown in to him.
In two words the young man explained his idea and plan. The idea was a very simple one, which readily accounted for the fact that nobody had before thought of it. The plan was a bold one. It was nothing less than to play the oracle, mystify a queen, and gull a people—who could tell? perhaps to falsify for ever the history of science in regard to the colour of cats! The mere thought of it made the Minister's forehead burst into a cold perspiration.
"If the trick is discovered," he objected, "we shall be impaled like traitors, beheaded like forgers, and burned at a slow fire like men guilty of sacrilege."
But Brisloün was not in the least degree weak-minded?
"One can but die once," he replied. In the situation of the Minister he ran but little risk.
These arguments were, in the end, successful, and the young man's plan accepted. Velvetpaw was confided to him.
The night passed feverishly and
