The Book of Cats. 193 



young rabbit crept into the bag, and the Cat im- 

 mediately drew the strings, and killed it without 

 mercy. Puss, proud of his prey, hastened directly 

 to the palace, where he asked to speak to the King. 

 On being shown into the apartment of his Majesty, 

 he made a low bow, and said : — '' I have brought 

 you. Sire, this rabbit from the warren of my Lord 

 the Marquis of Carabas, who commanded me to 

 present it to your Majesty, with the assurance of his 

 respects." One day, the Cat having heard that the 

 King intended to take a ride that morning by the 

 river's side with his daughter, who was the most 

 beautiful Princess in the world, he said to his 

 master : — " Take off your clothes, and bathe yourself 

 in the river, just in the place I shall show you, and 

 leave the rest to me." The Marquis did exactly as 

 he was desired, without being able to guess at 

 what the Cat intended. While he was bathine, the 

 King passed by, and Puss directly called out, as 

 loudly as he could bawl : — " Help ! help ! My Lord 

 Marquis of Carabas is in danger of being drowned !" 

 The King hearing the cries, and recognising the 

 Cat, ordered his attendants to go directly to the 

 assistance of my Lord Marquis of Carabas ; and 

 the cunning Cat having hid his master's clothes 

 under a large stone, the King commanded the 

 O 



