And they answered , ` We call it a cat . ' ' I should like to buy it -- if it is not too dear , ' said the young man ; ` it would be company for me . ' And they told him that he might have it for six shillings , if he cared to give so much . The young man took out his precious bit of paper , handed them the six shillings , and the next morning bade them farewell , with the cat lying snugly in his cloak . For the whole day they wandered through meadows and forests , till in the evening they reached a house . The young fellow knocked at the door and asked the old man who opened it if he could rest there that night , adding that he had no money to pay for it . ` Then I must give it to you , ' answered the man , and led him into a room where two women and two men were sitting at supper . One of the women was the old man 's wife , the other his daughter . He placed the cat on the mantel shelf , and they all crowded round to examine this strange beast , and the cat rubbed itself against them , and held out its paw , and sang to them ; and the women were delighted , and gave it everything that a cat could eat , and a great deal more besides . After hearing the youth 's story , and how he had nothing in the world left him except his cat , the old man advised him to go to the palace , which was only a few miles distant , and take counsel of the king , who was kind to everyone , and would certainly be his friend . The young man thanked him , and said he would gladly take his advice ; and early next morning he set out for the royal palace . He sent a message to the king to beg for an audience , and received a reply that he was to go into the great hall , where he would find his Majesty . The king was at dinner with his court when the young man entered , and he signed to him to come near . The youth bowed low , and then gazed in surprise at the crowd of little black creatures who were running about the floor , and even on the table itself . Indeed , they were so bold that they snatched pieces of food from the King 's own plate , and if he drove them away , tried to bite his hands , so that he could not eat his food , and his courtiers fared no better . ` What sort of animals are these ? ' asked the youth of one of the ladies sitting near him . ` They are called rats , ' answered the king , who had overheard the question , ` and for years we have tried some way of putting an end to them , but it is impossible . They come into our very beds . ' At this moment something was seen flying through the air .
The cat was on the table , and with two or three shakes a number XXXXX rats were lying dead round him .
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