the weavers in order that they
might begin their work directly.

So the two pretended weavers set up two looms, and affected to work very
busily, though in reality they did nothing at all. They asked for the
most delicate silk and the purest gold thread; put both into their own
knapsacks; and then continued their pretended work at the empty looms
until late at night.

"I should like to know how the weavers are getting on with my cloth,"
said the Emperor to himself, after some little time had elapsed; he was,
however, rather embarrassed, when he remembered that a simpleton, or
one unfit for his office, would be unable to see the manufacture. To be
sure, he thought he had nothing to risk in his own person; but yet, he
would prefer sending somebody else, to bring him intelligence about the
weavers, and their work, before he troubled himself in the affair. All
the people throughout the city had heard of the wonderful property the
cloth was to possess; and all were anxious to learn how wise, or how
ignorant, their neighbors might prove to be.

"I will send my faithful old minister to the weavers," said the Emperor
at last, after some deliberation, "he will be best able to see how the
cloth looks; for he is a man of sense, and no one can be more suitable
for his office than he is."

So the faithful old minister went into the hall, where the knaves were
working with all their might, at their empty looms. "What can be the
meaning of this?" thought the old man, opening his eyes very wide. "I
cannot discover the least bit of thread on the looms." However, he did
not express his thoughts aloud.

The impostors requested him very courteously to be so good as to come
nearer their looms; and then asked him whether the design pleased
him, and whether the colors were not very beautiful; at the same time
pointing to the empty frames. The poor old minister looked and looked,
he could not discover anything on the looms, for a very good reason,
viz: there was nothing there. "What!" thought he again. "Is it possible
that I am a simpleton? I have never thought so myself; and no one must
know it now if I am so. Can it be, that I am unfit for my office? No,
that must not be said either. I will never confess that I could not see
the stuff."

"Well, Sir Minister!" said one of the knaves, still pretending to work.
"You do not say whether the stuff pleases you."

"Oh, it is excellent!" replied the old minister, looking at the loom
through