Poor Fatima has never quite got over the dreadful shock she had when she discovered the other wives all hanging up, and she can’t so much as bear the sight of a bunch of keys.
As usual, the Rainbow Cat was most kindly welcomed and was introduced to all the important people in the place.
They are always delighted to see strangers, as sometimes they feel that things are a little dull after the exciting adventures many of them have been through.
On the third day after his arrival he was invited to a great banquet at the palace of the Queen of Hearts.
It was a most wonderful banquet.
The Rainbow Cat wore his best bow, his dancing-shoes, and the gold collar which the giantess had given him. He took his mandolin with him; it had been most useful to him on several occasions, and it seemed a pity to leave it behind.
He met a number of friends at the party.
Puss-in-Boots, for instance, and the Pussy-cat who went to London to visit the Queen.
Dick Whittington’s cat was there too, but he gave himself great airs. It seems it wasn’t really quite certain whether he was a fairy-tale cat at all. Some people thought he was real.