Would you be frightened to see a lion before you

34. We have been assured that he was afraid, but we cannot believe it. 35. Can the cat assume the form of a rat? 36.

The mice began to run over the floor. 37. I£ we hear the noise of the carriage, we shall not enter the castle. 38. Run to meet the marquis and the princess. 39. You are welcome ! 40. Let us see these buildings, if you please. 41. We went up first, the cat followed us. 42. Our friends were to come and see us. 43. They did not dare to come in. 44. We saw the great wealth he possessed. 45. It will be my fault alone, if I am not the king's son-in-law. 46. Cats do not become great lords. 47. They run after mice to amuse themselves.

B, All the property a miller had was a mill, an ass and a cat. He left the mill to his eldest son and the cat to the youngest. The latter said that he would have to die of hunger, while his eldest brother would be able to earn his living decently. The cat pretended not to hear this speech. He told his master not to be troubled, but to give him a bag, and to get a pair of boots made for him. His master no longer despaired of being helped in his misery, for he had seen the cat play many clever tricks. He had seen him catch many rats and mice. Then the cat put on his boots, and seizing his bag with his fore-paws, he went off where there were many rabbits. Having put some bran into his bag, he stretched himself out, as if he were dead. A giddy young rabbit poked himself into the bag, the cat drew the strings, and caught him. Then he went to the king's palace, carrying his prey with him. He went up to the king's apartments, and making a bow, he told the king that the Marquis de Carabas had commissioned him to present a rabbit to his majesty. )Another time, he hid himself in some wheat, and caught two partridges which had gone into his bag. , He presented these to the king also, and the king received them with pleasure. He carried thus, from time to time, game to the king. I'One day, the king went for a drive with his daughter, on the banks of the river. "The cat advised his master to bathe in the river, where the king would pass by. ' The marquis did not know what use it would be, but he followed the cat's advice. As the king was passing, the cat screamed, " Help ! help ! a man is drowning ! " • The king recognized the cat, and ordered his guards to go to the man's help. / Now ipr), the cat had hid his master's clothes under a

stone, although he told the king that robbers had carried them off. Then the officers of the king's wardrobe went for some very fine clothing for the marquis. The king's daughter fell in love with the marquis, for he was very fine-looking, and the fine clothes heightened his good looks. Then he got into the king's carriage and took part in the drive. The cat was delighted to see that his plan was succeeding, and going ahead he came upon some peasants who were mowing in a meadow. He ordered them to say to the king, if the king asked them whose meadow it was, that it belonged to the marquis. They did not fail to say so [le) to the king. Then the cat came upon some harvesters, and told them that, if they did not say that the field of wheat which they were cutting belonged to the marquis, they would be cut up as fine as mince-meat. The king asked whose field it was, and they replied that it belonged to the marquis. The king rejoiced at this, but was astonished at the great possessions of the marquis. Now, all these lands belonged to a rich ogre, who lived in a great castle. The cat made enquiries as to who this ogre was, and what he could do, and asked to speak to him, saying that he wished to have the honour of paying him his respects. He was civilly received by the ogre. Then the ogre, to show the cat what he could do, changed himself into a lion. The cat was frightened, and fled to the eave- troughs. After a little time the cat came down, and told the ogre that he had been assured that the ogre could also change himself into a rat or a mouse, but that he considered that impossible. The ogre replied that he would soon see, and changing himself into a mouse began to run over the floor. The cat pounced on the mouse and ate it. The king, seeing the beautiful castle, crossed the drawbridge and entered the court. The cat ran to meet him and said, "Your majesty is welcome to the castle of the Marquis de Carabas." The king went in first, the marquis and princess followed him. In a great hall they found a wonderful repast which had been prepared by the ogre for his friends. The king and the princess were charmed by the good qualities and the great wealth of the marquis, and the king said to him, "You shall be my son-in-law." That very day he married the princess.