There once lived a king who was much loved by his people, and he,
too, loved them warmly. He led a very happy life, but he had the
greatest dislike to the idea of marrying, nor had he ever felt
the slightest wish to fall in love. His subjects begged him to
marry, and at last he promised to try to do so. But as, so far,
he had never cared for any woman he had seen, he made up his mind
to travel in hopes of meeting some lady he could love.

So he arranged all the affairs of state in an orderly manner, and
set out, attended by only one equerry, who, though not very
clever, had most excellent good sense. These people indeed
generally make the best fellow travellers.

The king explored several countries, doing all he could to fall
in love, but in vain; and at the end of two years' journeys he
turned his face towards home, with as free a heart as when he set
out.

As he was riding along through a forest he suddenly heard the
most awful miawing and shrieking of cats you can imagine. The
noise drew nearer, and nearer, and at last they saw a hundred
huge Spanish cats rush through the trees close to them. They were
so closely packed together that you could easily have covered
them with a large cloak, and all were following the same track.
They were closely pursued by two enormous apes, dressed in purple
suits, with the prettiest and best made boots you ever saw.

The apes were mounted on superb mastiffs, and spurred them on in
hot haste, blowing shrill blasts on little toy trumpets all the