Puss came in haste to his master. “Come quick!” he cried. “We have done well enough so far, but the time has now come when I will make your fortune.”
The cat then led Jack to a river, where he knew the King would pass before long. He then bade Jack take off his clothes and hide them under a rock, and then stand in the river up to his neck.
Jack did this, though the water was so cold it made him shudder, and he did not know how Puss was to make his fortune in this way.
Puss waited until he saw his master well in the river, and then he ran to the road along which the King was coming.
“Help! help!” he cried. “Oh, help! My master—the noble Marquis of Carrabas! He will surely drown.”
“What is the matter?” asked the King, stopping his coach, and the Princess and all the courtiers listened.
“Oh, your Majesty!” cried the cat. “My noble master! He was attacked by robbers and they robbed him of everything and threw him in the river, and unless he receives help he will surely drown.”
The King was very much concerned. He at once sent courtiers to draw Jack out from the river and dress him in robes of velvet and satin and gold lace.
Jack had never been so magnificently dressed before, and he looked a fine fellow indeed when he was brought to the King. His majesty was so pleased with Jack’s looks that he made him get into the coach and sit beside him, and the Princess was even better pleased with him than her father.
Meanwhile the little cat had hurried on far ahead of the coaches.