You must have noticed it , Jaqueline ; you sat up later . How the dogs howled ! '' `` No ; I mean yes , '' murmured poor Jaqueline , who of course had caused the whole affair by her magic arts , but who had forgotten , in the excitement of the moment , that an eclipse of the moon , especially if entirely unexpected , is likely to attract very general attention . Jaqueline could not bear to tell a fib , especially to a king who had been so kind to her ; besides , fibbing would not alter the facts . `` Yes , I did see it , '' she admitted , blushing . `` Had it not been predicted ? '' `` Not a word about it whispered anywhere , '' said his Majesty . `` I looked up the almanack at once . It is the most extraordinary thing I ever saw , and I 've seen a good many . '' `` The astronomers must be duffers , '' said Prince Ricardo . `` I never thought there was much in physical science of any sort ; most dreary stuff . Why , they say the earth goes round the sun , whereas any fool can see it is just the other way on . '' King Prigio was struck aghast by these sentiments in the mouth of his son and heir , the hope of Pantouflia . But what was the king to say in reply ? The astronomers of Pantouflia , who conceived that they knew a great deal , had certainly been taken by surprise this time . Indeed , they have not yet satisfactorily explained this eclipse of the moon , though they have written volumes about it . `` Why , it may be the sun next ! '' exclaimed his Majesty . `` Anything may happen . The very laws of gravitation themselves may go askew ! ''
At this moment the butler , William , who had been in the queen 's family when she was a girl , entered , and announced : `` Some XXXXX the royal tradesmen , by appointment , to see your Majesty . ''
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