Die digitale Landesbibliothek Oberösterreich

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brain was not more powerful than instantaneous. 
He placed the goblet nervously on the table, and 
looked round upon the company with a half-insane 
stare. They all seemed highly amused at the 
success of the king's “jo ke”. 
“And now to business,” said the prime minister, 
avery fat man. | 
“Yes,” said the king; “come, Hop-Frog, lend us 
your assistance. Characters, my fine fellow; we 
stand in need of characters—all of us—ha! ha! ha!” 
and as this was seriously meant for .a joke, his 
laugh was chorused by the seven. : 
Hop-Frog. also laughed, although feebly and 
somewhat vacantly. = | | 
“Come, come,” said the king, impatiently, “have 
you nothing to suggest?” 
“I am endeavouring to think of something 
novel” replied the dwarf, abstractedly, for he 
was quite bewildered by the wine. 
“Endeavouring!” cried the tyrant, fiercely! 
“what do you mean by that? Ah, I perceive. 
You are sulky, and want more wine. Here, drink 
this!“ and he poured out another goblet full and 
offered it to the cripple, who merely gazed at it, 
gasping for breath. | 
“Drink, I say!” shouted the monster, “or by the 
fiends— —" 
The. dwarf hesitated. - The king grew purple 
with rage. The courtiers smirked. Trippetta, 
pale as a corpse, advanced to the monarch’s seat, 
and, falling on her knees before him, implored him 
to spare her friend. 
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[X73