“You are quite right,” replied the king.
“I have in my byres near by,” continued the man, “some of the finest stirks that ever stood on four hoofs. Would you be willing to come and give me your opinion of them, and say how much you care to pay for as many as you need?”
Again the man swept his bonnet nearly to the floor, and his six men, who stood back against the wall, as if to give the speaker the stage in the centre of the floor, glanced one at another. The king, however, was unruffled, and he replied with a twinkle in his eye,—
“My good sir, you are mistaken, we are on the other side of the market. We are sellers and not buyers.”
“So was Judas,” said the incomer, his politeness giving way to an expression of fierceness and cruelty which went far to terrify two of the seated men. “Are you sure, sir, that the cattle you sell have not two legs instead of four?”
“I don’t understand you,” replied the king.
“Is it men or stirks, you would give to the butcher?”
“Still I do not understand you,” repeated the king.
“Oh, very well. How much are you asking for your cattle?”