“If you will do as I say,” replied the peasant, “I will prove that I have told you the truth.”
III
The Emperor promised to do this, although he could not believe he had been deceived.
Just then all the attendants came running across the field, for they had waked up and missed the Emperor.
Tears ran down their cheeks. They wished to have the Emperor think they were weeping because he was gone. He did not know each one had an onion in his handkerchief.
“Command them to stop where they are,” the peasant whispered.
The Emperor made them stop about twenty feet away, right in the middle of a ditch.
“We are weeping because of your absence, beloved Emperor,” said the chief attendant. He wiped his eyes with his handkerchief, and all the others did the same thing.