scoundrel who has give you the annoyance, and it is not right that
he should escape through the meshes of the net. Let us wait, then,
till he comes to light, and we discover the root of this disgrace, and
then we will think it over and resolve what were best to be done."
This counsel pleased the King, for he saw that they spoke like
sensible, prudent men, so he held his hand and said, "Let us wait
and see the end of this business."

So then the King made a great banquet, and invited every one of
his nobles and all the gentlemen in his kingdom to come to it, and
set Vastolla at the high table at the top of the hall, for, he said, "No
common man can have done this, and when she recognises the
fellow we shall see her eyes turn to him, and we will instantly lay
hold on him and put him out of the way." But when the feasting
was done, and all the guests passed out in a line, Vastolla took no
more notice of them than Alexander's bull-dog did of the rabbits;
and the King grew more angry than ever, and vowed that he would
kill her without more delay. Again, however, the Councillors
pacified him and said, "Softly, softly, your Majesty! quiet your
wrath. Let us make another banquet to-morrow, not for people of
condition but for the lower sort. Some women always attach
themselves to the worst, and we shall find among the cutlers, and
bead-makers, and comb-sellers, the root of your anger, which we
have not discovered among the cavaliers."

This reasoning took the fancy of the King, and he ordered a second
banquet to be prepared, to which, on proclamation being made,
came all the riff-raff and rag-tag and bob-tail of the city, such as
rogues, scavengers, tinkers, pedlars, sweeps, beggars, and such like
rabble, who were all in high glee; and, taking their seats like