it very much indeed."

"Ah! we are very glad of that," said both weavers, and then they
described the colors, and explained the strange patterns.

The old minister listened attentively, so as to be able to repeat it
all when he returned to the Emperor, and this he did.

The rogues now asked for more money, and for more silk and gold
thread, which they required for weaving. They put everything into
their pockets, and not a thread went on the frames, but nevertheless
they continued to work at the empty looms.

Soon afterward the Emperor sent another clever statesman to see how
the weaving was getting on, and whether the stuff was nearly ready.
The same thing happened to him as to the minister; he looked and
looked, but as there was nothing on the empty frames, he could not see
anything.

"Now, is not that a beautiful piece of stuff?" said both rogues, and
described the beauty of the pattern, which did not exist at all.

"I am not stupid," thought the statesman, "so it must be that I am
unfit for the high position I hold; that is very strange, but I must
not let anybody notice it." So he praised the piece of stuff which he
could not see, and said how pleased he was with the beautiful colors
and the pretty pattern.

"Oh! it is really magnificent!" he said to the Emperor.

All the people in the town were talking about the beautiful stuff, and
the Emperor himself wished to see it while it was still on the loom.
With a whole suite of chosen courtiers, among whom were the two honest
old statesmen who had been there before, the Emperor went to the two
cunning rogues, who were now weaving as fast as they could, but
without thread or shuttle.

"Well! is it not magnificent?" cried the two clever statesmen; "does
your majesty recognize how beautiful is the pattern, how charming the
colors?" and they pointed to the empty looms, for they thought that
the others could see the stuff.

"What?" thought the Emperor; "I cannot see anything; this is terrible!
Am I stupid; or am I not fit to be Emperor? This would be the most
dreadful thing that could happen to me! Yes, it is very beautiful," he
said at last; "we give our highest approbation!" and he nodded as if
he were quite satisfied, and gazed at the empty looms.

He would not say that he saw nothing, and the whole of his suite
looked and looked; but, like the others, they were unable to see
anything. So they said, just like the Emperor, "Yes, it is very
pretty," and they ad