They placed two weaving-looms, and began to do as if they were
working, but they had not the least thing on the looms. They
also demanded the finest silk and the best gold, which they put
in their pockets, and worked at the empty looms till late into
the night.

'I should like very much to know how far they have got on with
the cloth,' thought the Emperor. But he remembered when he
thought about it that whoever was stupid or not fit for his
office would not be able to see it. Now he certainly believed
that he had nothing to fear for himself, but he wanted first to
send somebody else in order to see how he stood with regard to
his office. Everybody in the whole town knew what a wonderful
power the cloth had, and they were all curious to see how bad or
how stupid their neighbour was.

'I will send my old and honoured minister to the weavers,'
thought the Emperor. 'He can judge best what the cloth is like,
for he has intellect, and no one understands his office better
than he.'

Now the good old minister went into the hall where the two
impostors sat working at the empty weaving-looms. 'Dear me!'
thought the old minister, opening his eyes wide, 'I can see
nothing!' But he did not say so.

Both the impostors begged him to be so kind as to step closer,
and asked him if it were not a beautiful texture and lovely
colours. They pointed to the empty loom, and the poor old