The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-04-08
THE CAT A 4HE THE KING


ting my family to Inconvenience. On
the occasion Of his last visit my
coaches went to meet him at the gates
little before noon, but he did not i'm
nediately arrive; and being at leisure
I went with my wife to inspect his
rooms and satisfy myself that every
thing was in order.
They were in charge of La Trape
man of address and intelligence. He
met me at the door and conducted us
through the rooms with an air of sat
lsfact1on; nor could 1 find the slightest
fauit, until my wife, looking about her
with woman's eye for minutest
things, paused by the bed in the cham
Der, and directed my attention to
something on the floor
She stopped over it. Whats this ?"
she asked. HAS something been"
Upset here?" I said, looking also.
Ihere was a little pool Of white liquid
on the floor beside the bed.
La Trape uttered an exclamation of
annoyance, and explained that he had
not seen it before, that it had not been
there five minutes earlier, and that he
did not know how 1t came to be there
now.
What is it?" I said, looking about
for some pitcher that might be over
flowed. but finding none. Is It rniIk?"
i don't know, your excellency," he
answered but it shall be removed
at once"
See what it is" I said. TT looks
ILL
And with that the matter passed
from my mind: the more completely
as 1 heard at that moment the sound
of the kings approach, and went into
the courtyard to receive him. He
dtned well. and after dinner amused
himself with seeing the young men
ride at the ring, and even rode a
course himself with his usual skill
After supper, pronouncing himself
tired, he dismissed ALL and retired
with me to his chamber Here we had
some talk; but about IL o'clock he
yawned, and, after thanking me for a
reception which, he said. was quite to
his mind, he babe me go to bed.
was halfway to the door when he
called me back. why, grand master"
he said. pointing to the little table by
the head of the bed on which his night
drinks stood, you might be going to
drown me. Do you expect me TO
drink all these in the night"
I think that there is only your pos
set, sire ] said, land the lemon
water, which you generally drink"
And two or three other things?"
Perhaps they have given your
majesty some of the Arbois wine that
you were good enough to"
Tut. Tut" he said. lifting the
wine. 1t may be a milk-posset.''
Yes. sire; very likely" I said,
drOwsilv.
But it is not" he answered when
he hadlsmelled it 1T is plain milk
Come. my friend" he continued, look
ing drOliY at me. Have you turned
leech or a babe i'm arms that you put
such strong liquors before me? How
ever. to show you that I have some
childish tastes left, and am not so de-
PRAYED IS you have been trying to
make me out for the last hour. I will
ufiak your health in it. It would serve
YOU right if I made you pledge me in
the same liquor"
The cup was at his lips when I
sprang forward and, Needless of cere-
nnony. caught his arm. Pardon sire,"
7 cried in sudden aGitatiOn. eff that
IS milk I gave no order that it should
be placed here, and I know nothing of
its origin. 7 beg that you will not
drink OF it until have made some in
quiry."
''They have all been tasted?" he
asked, still holding the cup in his
hand with the lid raised, but looking
at II gravely.
They should have BEEN an
suered- But La Trape, whom I made
answerable for that. is outside. I Will
20 and question him. If you will wait,
sire. a moment"
-'No." Henry said. Have him
here
I gave the order to the pages who
were waiting outside, and in moment
Ia Trape appeared. After asking the
kings permissior. said: What
drinks did you place on the table here,
sirrah?''
He answered boldly enough that he
had served a posset. some lemon water
and some milk.
But orders We're given only for the
lemon water and the posset," I said.
True your excellenCy." he answer
cd. But when I went 10 the pantry
hatch to see the under butler carry up
the tray I found that the milk was on
the tray and supposed that you had
given another order"
Possibly Nine. de Sully." the king
said. looking al. me. gave the order
TO add it,
she would not presume to do 50,
sire 7 answered sternly. Nor do I
IN the least understand the matter
But-at one thing we can easily arrive.
You tasted all Of these. man?"
La Trape said he had.
You drank a quantity. A substan
orders given to you?" l persisted
yes, your excelIency."
But I caught a guilty look in his
eyes and in gust of rage ] cried out
that he lied. THE TRUTH I thunder
ed in a terrible voice. THE truth, you
Villain. gu OlAi llOl ltSNt Ill
II did, your excellency; as God Is
above, 1 did," he answered.
The king INTERVIEWED. quite So" he
said TO La Trape with a smile. You
drank my good fellow. of the pOsset
and the lemonade and you tasted the
milk but you did not drink of all Is
not that the whole TRUTH
Yes sire. ne whtmpered, breaking
down. But IL gave some TO a cat
"And the cat is no worse?'
mo. sire
There, grand master, the king
said turning to me, that Is the truth,
think. What do saw to it,"