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 brought in, which consisted of many dishes; but no sooner were the dishes put down, but an amazing number of rats and mice came from all quarters, and devoured all the meat in an instant. The factor in surprise turned round to the nobles, and asked, "If these vermin were not offensive?"—"O yes," said they, "very offensive, and the king would “give half his treasure to be freed of them; "for they not only destroy his dinner, as you "see, but they assault him in his chamber, "and even in bed, so that he is obliged to be "watched while he is sleeping, for fear of "them."

The factor jumped for joy; he remembered poor Whittington and his cat, and told the king he had a creature on board the ship that would dispatch all these vermin immediately. The king’s heart heaved so high at the joy which this news gave him, that his turban dropped off his head! "Bring this creature to "me," says he, "vermin are dreadful in a "court, and if she will perform what you "say, I will load your ship with gold and jewels "in exchange for her." The factor, who knew his business, took this opportunity to set forth the merits of Mrs Puss. He told his Majesty, "that it would be inconvenient "to part with her, as when she was gone, the "rats and mice might destroy the goods in his "ship