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 of the royal tradesmen , by appointment , to see your Majesty . '' So the king , who had scarcely eaten any breakfast , much to the annoyance of the queen , who was not agitated by eclipses , went out and joined the tailors and the rest of them . CHAPTER III . The Adventure of the Shopkeepers . -LCB- Man with sword : p48.jpg -RCB- Dick went on with his breakfast . He ate cold pastry , and poached eggs , and ham , and rolls , and raspberry jam , and hot cakes ; and he drank two cups of coffee . Meanwhile the king had joined the tradesmen who attended by his orders . They were all met in the royal study , where the king made them a most splendid bow , and requested them to be seated . But they declined to sit in his sacred presence , and the king observed that , in that case he must stand up . `` I have invited you here , gentlemen , '' he said , `` on a matter of merely private importance , but I must request that you will be entirely silent as to the nature of your duties . It is difficult , I know , not to talk about one 's work , but in this instance I am sure you will oblige me . '' `` Your Majesty has only to command , '' said Herr Schnipp . `` There have been monarchs , in neighbouring kingdoms , who would have cut off all our heads after we had done a bit of secret business ; but the merest word of your Majesty is law to your loving subjects . ''
The other merchants murmured assent , for King Prigio was really liked XXXXX his people .
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