"Niblius, come forward," cried the counsellor.
But although everyone looked, no one could see Niblius, and they wondered if he had dared not to be present. At last a little mouse with a white face and white feet was seen running up the hairy body of Primeval and out along his extended arm, and then sitting bolt upright on his broad palm. Then it bowed with a pretty jerk to king Muffler, and he nodded back and smiled.
"I suppose you will be able to prove the black cat's words to be true?" remarked Primeval.
"No, my king," replied the little fellow bravely, and he told everything he overheard in the barn.
King Muffler opened his eyes in astonishment and enquired—
"Is Niblius truthful?"
"He was never known to tell a lie in all his life," answered Primeval.
"Then Purrier must be very treacherous," rejoined the king.
"He is," said the counsellor.
"It is no new thing," remarked the king, "for crafty creatures to get the simple to begin a foolish quarrel."