Page:History of Whittington and his cat (2).pdf/21

PUSS IN BOOTS 21 the King, who will presently pass this way, that the corn you have reaped in this field belongs to my Lord Marquis of Carabas, you shall be chopped as small as mince meat."

The King accordingly passed a moment after, and inquired to whom the corn he saw belonged? _"To my Lord Marquis of Carabas, answered they very glibly; upon which the King again complimented the Marquis on his noble possessions.

The Cat still continued to go before, and gave the same charge to all the people he met with; so that the King was greatly astonished at the splendid fortune of my Lord Marquis of Carabas.

Puss at length arrived at a stately castle, which belonged 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 particular 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