Smearing his face with dirt , and tearing his clothes so as to look like a beggar , he stopped the passers by and , on pretence of seeking money or food , he questioned them about the village gossip . In this manner he learned that his brothers had become great men , much respected in all the country round . When he heard that , he lost no time in going to the door of their fine house and imploring them to give him food and shelter ; but the only thing he got was hard words , and a command to beg elsewhere . At length , however , at their mother 's entreaty , he was told that he might pass the night in the stable . Here he waited until everybody in the house was sound asleep , when he drew his bag from under his cloak , and desired that a castle might appear in that place ; and the cornet gave him soldiers to guard the castle , while the table furnished him with a good supper . In the morning , he caused it all to vanish , and when his brothers entered the stable they found him lying on the straw . Jack remained here for many days , doing nothing , and -- as far as anybody knew -- eating nothing . This conduct puzzled his brothers greatly , and they put such constant questions to him , that at length he told them the secret of the table , and even gave a dinner to them , which far outdid any they had ever seen or heard of . But though they had solemnly promised to reveal nothing , somehow or other the tale leaked out , and before long reached the ears of the king himself . That very evening his chamberlain arrived at Jack 's dwelling , with a request from the king that he might borrow the table for three days . ` Very well , ' answered Jack , ` you can take it back with you . But tell his majesty that if he does not return it at the end of the three days I will make war upon him . ' So the chamberlain carried away the table and took it straight to the king , telling him at the same time of Jack 's threat , at which they both laughed till their sides ached . Now the king was so delighted with the table , and the dinners it gave him , that when the three days were over he could not make up his mind to part with it . Instead , he sent for his carpenter , and bade him copy it exactly , and when it was done he told his chamberlain to return it to Jack with his best thanks . It happened to be dinner time , and Jack invited the chamberlain , who knew nothing of the trick , to stay and dine with him . The good man , who had eaten several excellent meals provided by the table in the last three days , accepted the invitation with pleasure , even though he was to dine in a stable , and sat down on the straw beside Jack . ` The dinner of an emperor ! ' cried Jack . But not even a morsel of cheese made its appearance .
` The dinner XXXXX an emperor ! '
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