“Dear White Cat,” said the Prince, “how can I ever thank you? If you will only consent to it, I will gladly give up all thought of ever being King and stay here with you.”
“King’s Son,” she replied, “it is very good of you to care so much for a little white cat who is good for nothing but to catch mice; but you must go.”
So the Prince kissed her paw and set out. They did not stop at all until they came to [[170]]the King’s palace where the two elder brothers had already arrived. They displayed their pieces of linen, which were indeed so fine that they would go through the eye of a big needle; but the King, who was very glad of some excuse, sent for a very small needle that he had selected and had kept locked with the State treasure. Through this the linen would not go. The Princes were angry, and said that this was a trick that the King was playing on them.
But all at once there was a sound of trumpets and the youngest son appeared. The King and his two elder sons were astonished at his magnificence. After the young Prince had greeted them he took out the walnut and cracked it, thinking to find in it the piece of linen, but instead there was only a hazelnut. He cracked that and was surprised to see a cherry stone. The people who were looking on began to smile, and the King laughed to himself at the idea that a walnut should contain a piece of linen. The Prince cracked the cherry stone, [[171]]which contained a kernel. He opened that and found a grain of wheat, and in that was a millet seed. Then he began to wonder too, and murmured, “Why, White Cat, you have made game of me.”
At that moment he felt a cat’s claw on his hand, which scratched him so sharply that he bled. He hoped this was to encourage him, and opened the millet seed. Then, to the astonishment of every one, he drew forth a piece of linen four hundred ells long. Into it were woven all the kinds of birds [[172]]and beasts and fishes in the world; the sun, moon, and stars; every sort of plant and tree that grows; and pictures of all the Kings and Queens in the world, and all their children. When the needle was brought the linen went through the eye six times with ease. The King and the two elder brothers sat still and did not say a word, for no one could help seeing that this linen was so beautiful and rare that nothing in the world could be compared to it.
Presently the King turned to his sons and said with a deep sigh: “Nothing consoles me more in my old age than to see your deference to my wishes. I desire to put you to further proof. Go once more and travel for a year, and at the end of that time he who brings back the most beautiful girl shall marry her and be crowned King on his wedding day. It is necessary that my successor should marry. I promise that I will not then put off the reward.”
So they set out again, and our Prince returned in his splendid carriage to his dear [[173]]White Cat. This time she knew the day and hour of his arrival, and had the road strewn with flowers and grand preparations made to celebrate his return. Seated in a gallery from which she could see him coming, the White Cat awaited him.
“Well, King’s Son,” she said, “you have again returned without a crown.”
“Madam,” he replied, “your kindness has earned me one twice over, but I am persuaded that my father is unwilling to part with it himself.”