16
to an Ogre, the richest ever known; for all the lands the king had passed through and admired were his. The cat took care to learn every partieular about the Ogre, and what he could do, and then asked to speak with him, saying, as he entered the room in which he was, that he could not pass so near his castle without doing himself the honour to inquire for his health.
The Ogre received him as civilly as an Ogre could do, and desired him to be seated. "I have been informed," said the cat, "that you have the gift of changing yourself into all sorts of animals; into a lion, or an elephant, for example." "It is very true," replied the Ogre somewhat sternly; "and to convince you, I will directly take the form of a lion." The cat was so much terrified at finding himself so near a lion, that he sprang from him, and climbed to the roof of the house; but not without much difficulty, as his boots were not very fit to walk upon the tiles.
Some minutes after, the cat perceiving that the Ogre had quitted the form of a lion, ventured to come down from the tiles, and owned that he had been a good deal frightened. "I have been further informed," continued the cat, "but I know not how to believe it, that you have the powder of taking the form of the smallest animals also; for example, of changing yourself to a rat or a mouse. I confess I should think this must be impossible." "Impossible! you shall see and at the same instant he ehanged himself into a mouse, and began to frisk about the room. The cat no sooner cast his eyes upon the Ogre in this form, than he sprang upon him, and devoured him in an instant.
In the meantime the king, admiring, as he came near it, the magnificent eastle of the Ogre, ordered his attendants to drive up to the gates, as he wished to take a nearer view of it. The cat, hearing the noise of the carriage on the drawbridge, immediately came out, saying, "Your majesty is welcome to the castle of my lord marquis of Carabas." "And is this splendid castle yours also, my lord marquis of Carabas? I never saw any thing more stately than the building, or more beautiful than the park and pleasure grounds around it; no doubt the castle is no less magnificent within than without; pray, my lord marquis, indulge me with a sight of it."
The marquis gave his hand to the young princess as she alighted, and followed the king, who went before; they entered a spacious hall, where they found a splendid collation which the Ogre had prepared for some friends he had that day expected to visit him; but who, hearing that the king with the princess and a great gentleman of the court were within had not dared to enter.
