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Pray do tell us why, Virupaksha.

Of course I don't mind telling you—for we are all good friends, aren't we? There can be no harm. (With a low voice.) The King—is—hideous to look at, so he has made up his mind never to show himself to his subjects.

Ha! that's it! A It must be so. We have always wondered. . . why, the mere sight of a King in all countries makes one's soul quake like an aspen leaf with fear; but why should our King never have been seen by any mortal soul? Even if he at least came out and consigned us all to the gibbet, we might be sure that our King was no hoax. After all, there is much in