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THE WHITE CAT
ONCE upon a time there was a king who had three sons；
who were all so clever and brave that he began to be
afraid that they would want to reign over the kingdom
before he was dead。 Now the King； though he felt that
he was growing old； did not at all wish to give up the
government of his kingdom while he could still manage it
very well； so he thought the best way to live in peace
would be to divert the minds of his sons by promises
which he could always get out of when the time came for
keeping them。
So he sent for them all； and； after speaking to them
kindly； he added：
〃You will quite agree with me； my dear children； that
my great age makes it impossible for me to look after my
affairs of state as carefully as I once did。 I begin to fear
that this may affect the welfare of my subjects； therefore
I wish that one of you should succeed to my crown； but
in return for such a gift as this it is only right that you
should do something for me。 Now； as I think of retiring
into the country； it seems to me that a pretty； lively；
faithful little dog would be very good company for me； so；
without any regard for your ages； I promise that the one
who brings me the most beautiful little dog shall succeed
me at once。〃
The three Princes were greatly surprised by their
father's sudden fancy for a little dog； but as it gave the
two younger ones a chance they would not otherwise have
had of being king； and as the eldest was too polite to
make any objection； they accepted the commission with
pleasure。 They bade farewell to the King； who gave them
presents of silver and precious stones； and appointed to
meet them at the same hour； in the same place； after a
year had passed； to see the little dogs they had brought
for him。
Then they went together to a castle which was about
a league from the city； accompanied by all their particular
friends； to whom they gave a grand banquet； and the
three brothers promised to be friends always； to share
whatever good fortune befell them； and not to be parted
by any envy or jealousy； and so they set out； agreeing
to meet at the same castle at the appointed time； to
present themselves before the King together。 Each one took
a different road； and the two eldest met with many
adventures； but it is about the youngest that you are
going to hear。 He was young； and gay； and handsome；
and knew everything that a prince ought to know； and
as for his courage； there was simply no end to it。
Hardly a day passed without his buying several dogs
big and little； greyhounds； mastiffs； spaniels； and lapdogs。
As soon as he had bought a pretty one he was sure to see
a still prettier； and then he had to get rid of all the others
and buy that one； as； being alone； he found it impossible
to take thirty or forty thousand dogs about with him。 He
journeyed from day to day； not knowing where he was
going； until at last； just at nightfall； he reached a great；
gloomy forest。 He did not know his way； and； to make
matters worse； it began to thunder； and the rain poured
down。 He took the first path he could find； and after
walking for a long time he fancied he saw a faint light； and
began to hope that he was coming to some cottage where
he might find shelter for the night。 At length； guided by
the light； he reached the door of the most splendid castle
he could have imagined。 This door was of gold covered
with carbuncles； and it was the pure red light which shone
from them that had shown him the way through the
forest。 The walls were of the finest porcelain in all the
most delicate colors； and the Prince saw that all the
stories he had ever read were pictured upon them； but as
he was terribly wet； and the rain still fell in torrents； he
could not stay to look about any more； but came back to
the golden door。 There he saw a deer's foot hanging by a
chain of diamonds； and he began to wonder who could
live in this magnificent castle。
〃They must feel very secure against robbers；〃 he said
to himself。 〃What is to hinder anyone from cutting off
that chain and digging out those carbuncles； and making
himself rich for life？〃
He pulled the deer's foot； and immediately a silver
bell sounded and the door flew open； but the Prince could
see nothing but numbers of hands in the air； each holding
a torch。 He was so much surprised that he stood quite
still； until he felt himself pushed forward by other hands；
so that； though he was somewhat uneasy； he could not
help going on。 With his hand on his sword； to be prepared
for whatever might happen； he entered a hall paved
with lapis…lazuli； while two lovely voices sang：
〃The hands you see floating above
Will swiftly your bidding obey；
If your heart dreads not conquering Love；
In this place you may fearlessly stay。〃
The Prince could not believe that any danger threatened
him when he was welcomed in this way； so； guided
by the mysterious hands； he went toward a door of coral；
which opened of its own accord； and he found himself in
a vast hall of mother…of…pearl； out of which opened a
number of other rooms； glittering with thousands of
lights； and full of such beautiful pictures and precious
things that the Prince felt quite bewildered。 After passing
through sixty rooms the hands that conducted him
stopped； and the Prince saw a most comfortable…looking
arm…chair drawn up close to the chimney…corner； at the
same moment the fire lighted itself； and the pretty； soft；
clever hands took off the Prince's wet； muddy clothes； and
presented him with fresh ones made of the richest stuffs；
all embroidered with gold and emeralds。 He could not
help admiring everything he saw； and the deft way in
which the hands waited on him； though they sometimes
appeared so suddenly that they made him jump。
When he was quite readyand I can assure you that
he looked very different from the wet and weary Prince
who had stood outside in the rain； and pulled the deer's
footthe hands led him to a splendid room； upon the
walls of which were painted the histories of Puss in Boots
and a number of other famous cats。 The table was laid
for supper with two golden plates； and golden spoons and
forks； and the sideboard was covered with dishes and
glasses of crystal set with precious stones。 The Prince was
wondering who the second place could be for； when suddenly
in came about a dozen cats carrying guitars and
rolls of music； who took their places at one end of the
room； and under the direction of a cat who beat time with
a roll of paper began to mew in every imaginable key； and
to draw their claws across the strings of the guitars； making
the strangest kind of music that could be heard。 The
Prince hastily stopped up his ears； but even then the
sight of these comical musicians sent him into fits of
laughter。
〃What funny thing shall I see next？〃 he said to himself；
and instantly the door opened； and in came a tiny figure
covered by a long black veil。 It was conducted by two
cats wearing black mantles and carrying swords； and a
large party of cats followed； who brought in cages full of
rats and mice。
The Prince was so much astonished that he thought he
must be dreaming； but the little figure came up to him
and threw back its veil； and he saw that it was the loveliest
little white cat it is possible to imagine。 She looked
very young and very sad； and in a sweet little voice that
went straight to his heart she said to the Prince：
〃King's son； you are welcome； the Queen of the Cats is
glad to see you。〃
〃Lady Cat；〃 replied the Prince； 〃I thank you for
receiving me so kindly； but surely you are no ordinary
pussy…cat？ Indeed； the way you speak and the magnificence
of your castle prove it plainly。〃
〃King's son；〃 said the White Cat； 〃I beg you to spare
me these compliments； for I am not used to them。 But
now；〃 she added； 〃let supper be served； and let the
musicians be silent； as the Prince does not understand what
they are saying。〃
So the mysterious hands began to bring in the supper；
and first they put on the table two dishes； one containing
stewed pigeons and the other a fricassee of fat mice。 The
sight of the latter made the Prince feel as if he could not
enjoy his supper at all； but the White Cat； seeing this；
assured him that the dishes intended for him were prepared
in a separate kitchen； and he might be quite certain
that they contained neither rats nor mice； and the Prince
felt so sure that she would not deceive him that he had no
more hesitation in beginning。 Presently he noticed that
on the little paw that was next him the White Cat wore a
bracelet containing a portrait； and he begged to be allowed
to look at it。 To his great surprise he found it represented
an extremely handsome young man； who was so like himself
that it might have been his own portrait！ The White
Cat sighed as he looke