(She turns to Pierre’s mother.)

You see, madam, how little chance your boy has.  I am sure he cannot dance?

POOR WOODCUTTER’S WIFE (sadly).  No, madam.

MAYOR’S WIFE.  I am certain he does not ride?

POOR WOODCUTTER’S WIFE (sighing).  No, madam.

[Enter an AIDE; crosses to Emperor’s room; announces at curtains.]

AIDE.  The boys have returned, sire!

[Enter the CAPTAIN with the BOYS. Enter the GENERAL from Emperor’s room.]

GENERAL (announcing).  The Emperor!

[Enter the EMPEROR; all bow.]

EMPEROR (sitting in armchair).  I will now give the test.  Captain, bring up the first boy.

[The Captain brings up the RICH MERCHANT’S SON.]

EMPEROR.  Well, my lad, what did you see in the forest?

RICH MERCHANT’S SON.  Many, many trees, sire.

EMPEROR.  You saw nothing but trees?

RICH MERCHANT’S SON.  That was all, sire—­just trees.

EMPEROR.  I shall not want you; you may go.

RICH MERCHANT’S WIFE.  Oh, your Majesty, if you could only see him dance!

EMPEROR.  Candles and cheese!  Do I want a dancing guide?  Captain, bring up the next one.

[The Captain brings up the MAYOR’S SON.]

EMPEROR.  Well, my lad, what did you see in the forest?

MAYOR’S SON.  I saw trees and bushes, sire.

EMPEROR.  Nothing more?

MAYOR’S SON.  No, sire.

EMPEROR.  I shall not want you; you may go.

MAYOR’S WIFE.  Oh, your Majesty, if you could only see him ride!  Just like a prince, sire!

EMPEROR.  Fiddlesticks!  Captain, the last boy there.

[The Captain brings up PIERRE].

EMPEROR.  Well, my lad, what did you see in the forest?

PIERRE.  I saw that a man had passed southward just before us, sire.

EMPEROR.  How did you know that?  Did you see him?

PIERRE.  No, sire, I saw his footprints.  He was lame in the left leg.

EMPEROR.  How did you learn that?

PIERRE.  The footprints were deeper on the right side.  His dog was lame also.

EMPEROR.  He had a dog?

PIERRE.  Yes, sire; a lame dog I’m sure, because one of his tracks was always faint or missing.

EMPEROR.  Did you trace this man and dog by their footprints?

PIERRE.  Yes, sire, to the river.  There were traces of them in the grass, in the mud, in the dust, on rocks, and in still water.  I am certain they had passed but a short time before—­not more than a half hour.

EMPEROR.  How could you tell that?

PIERRE.  The grass had not yet straightened up.  The tracks in the mud had not yet filled with water.  The prints in the dust were still clear although a wind was blowing.

EMPEROR.  Good!  But how did you know they had but just passed through still water and over rocks?