`` Have you seen anyone go out ? '' he cried . `` No one , sire , '' answered the soldiers . The king , who began to guess what had happened , hurried back to the turret-room . There were all the tradesmen with parcels under their arms . `` What means this , gentlemen ? '' said his Majesty , severely . `` For what reason did you leave the room without my permission ? '' They all knelt down , humbly imploring his compassion . `` Get up , you donkeys ! '' said the king , forgetting his politeness . `` Get up , and tell me where you have been hiding yourselves . '' The hatter came forward , and said : `` Sire , you will not believe me ; indeed , I can scarcely believe it myself ! '' `` Nor none of us ca n't , '' said the swordmaker . `` We have been home , and brought the articles . All orders executed with punctuality and dispatch , '' he added , quoting his own advertisement without thinking of it . On this the swordmaker took out and exhibited the Andrea Ferrara blade , which was exactly like the Sword of Sharpness . The upholsterer undid his parcel , and there was a Persian rug , which no one could tell from the magical carpet . The hatter was fumbling with the string of his parcel , when he suddenly remembered , what the king in his astonishment had not noticed , that he had a cap on himself . He pulled it off in a hurry , and the king at once saw that it was his Wishing Cap , and understood all about the affair .
The hatter , in his absence , had tried XXXXX the Wishing Cap , and had wished that he himself and his friends were all at home and back again with their wares at the palace .
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