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“Thesoundappearedtocomefromwithout,”observedoneofthe
courtiers.“Ifancyitwastheparrotatthewindow,whettinghisbill
uponhiscage-wires.”
“True,”repliedthemonarch,asifmuchrelievedbythesuggestion;
“but,onthehonorofaknight,Icouldhaveswornthatitwasthe
grittingofthisvagabond’steeth.”
Hereuponthedwarflaughed(thekingwastooconfirmedajoker
toobjecttoanyone’slaughing),anddisplayedasetoflarge,powerful,
andveryrepulsiveteeth.Moreover,heavowedhisperfectwillingness
toswallowasmuchwineasdesired.Themonarchwaspacified;and
havingdrainedanotherbumperwithnoveryperceptibleilleffect,Hop-
Frogenteredatonce,andwithspirit,intotheplansforthe
masquerade.
“Icannottellwhatwastheassociationofidea,”observedhe,very
tranquilly,andasifhehadnevertastedwineinhislife,“butjustafter
yourmajesty,hadstruckthegirlandthrownthewineinherface—just
afteryourmajestyhaddonethis,andwhiletheparrotwasmakingthat
oddnoiseoutsidethewindow,therecameintomymindacapital
diversion—oneofmyowncountryfrolics—oftenenactedamongus,
atourmasquerades:buthereitwillbenewaltogether.Unfortunately,
however,itrequiresacompanyofeightpersonsand—”
“Hereweare!”criedtheking,laughingathisacutediscoveryofthe
coincidence;“eighttoafraction—Iandmysevenministers.Come!
whatisthediversion?”
“Wecallit,”repliedthecripple,“theEightChainedOurang-
Outangs,anditreallyisexcellentsportifwellenacted.”
“Wewillenactit,”remarkedtheking,drawinghimselfup,and
loweringhiseyelids.
“Thebeautyofthegame,”continuedHop-Frog,“liesinthefright
itoccasionsamongthewomen.”
“Capital!”roaredinchorusthemonarchandhisministry.
“Iwillequipyouasourang-outangs,”proceededthedwarf;“leave
allthattome.Theresemblanceshallbesostriking,thatthecompany
ofmasqueraderswilltakeyouforrealbeasts—andofcourse,theywill
beasmuchterrifiedasastonished.”
“Oh,thisisexquisite!”exclaimedtheking.“Hop-Frog!Iwillmake
