The eldest had the mill , the second the ass , and the youngest nothing but the cat . The poor young fellow was quite comfortless at having so poor a lot . `` My brothers , '' said he , `` may get their living handsomely enough by joining their stocks together ; but for my part , when I have eaten up my cat , and made me a muff of his skin , I must die of hunger . '' The Cat , who heard all this , but made as if he did not , said to him with a grave and serious air : `` Do not thus afflict yourself , my good master . You have nothing else to do but to give me a bag and get a pair of boots made for me that I may scamper through the dirt and the brambles , and you shall see that you have not so bad a portion in me as you imagine . '' The Cat 's master did not build very much upon what he said . He had often seen him play a great many cunning tricks to catch rats and mice , as when he used to hang by the heels , or hide himself in the meal , and make as if he were dead ; so that he did not altogether despair of his affording him some help in his miserable condition . When the Cat had what he asked for he booted himself very gallantly , and putting his bag about his neck , he held the strings of it in his two forepaws and went into a warren where was great abundance of rabbits . He put bran and sow-thistle into his bag , and stretching out at length , as if he had been dead , he waited for some young rabbits , not yet acquainted with the deceits of the world , to come and rummage his bag for what he had put into it . Scarce was he lain down but he had what he wanted . A rash and foolish young rabbit jumped into his bag , and Monsieur Puss , immediately drawing close the strings , took and killed him without pity . Proud of his prey , he went with it to the palace and asked to speak with his majesty . He was shown upstairs into the King 's apartment , and , making a low reverence , said to him : `` I have brought you , sir , a rabbit of the warren , which my noble lord the Marquis of Carabas '' -LRB- for that was the title which puss was pleased to give his master -RRB- `` has commanded me to present to your majesty from him . '' `` Tell thy master , '' said the king , `` that I thank him and that he does me a great deal of pleasure . '' Another time he went and hid himself among some standing corn , holding still his bag open , and when a brace of partridges ran into it he drew the strings and so caught them both . He went and made a present of these to the king , as he had done before of the rabbit which he took in the warren . The king , in like manner , received the partridges with great pleasure , and ordered him some money for drink . The Cat continued for two or three months thus to carry his Majesty , from time to time , game of his master 's taking . One day in particular , when he knew for certain that he was to take the air along the river-side , with his daughter , the most beautiful princess in the world , he said to his master : `` If you will follow my advice your fortune is made . You have nothing else to do but go and wash yourself in the river , in that part I shall show you , and leave the rest to me . ''
The Marquis of XXXXX did what the Cat advised him to , without knowing why or wherefore .
Carabas King Puss day deceits manner months partridges reverence second