H. C. Andersen best fairy tales / Лучшие сказки Г.Х. Андерсена. Уровень 1

And they worked at the bare looms till any hour of the night.

“I want to know how they are working,” thought the Emperor. But to tell the truth he was afraid. Anyone who was stupid or unsuited to his post couldn’t see the dress. Of course, he was sure that he needn’t be afraid for himself. but he decided to send someone else first. Everybody in the whole city knew what a marvellous power was in the dress. So everybody was agog to see how incompetent and how stupid his neighbour was.

“I’ll send my good old minister to the weavers,” thought the Emperor; “he can quite well see everything.

He’s an intelligent man, and suited for his post”.

So the old minister went into the hall where the two swindlers were sitting working at the bare loom.

“My God!” thought the old minister. He was staring with all his eyes; “I can’t see anything”; but he didn’t say so.

Both the swindlers begged him to step nearer, and asked if here were not a pretty pattern and beautiful colours.

They pointed to the bare looms, and the poor old minister was staring at it, but he couldn’t see anything, because there was nothing.

“Oh God!” thought he; “can I be stupid? I never thought so, and nobody must know it. Can I be unfit for my office? No, no! I won’t say anybody about my defeat”.

“Well, have you nothing to say about it?” said the one who was weaving.

“Oh, it’s charming! Most delightful!” said the old minister.

He was looking through his spectacles. “The pattern! The colour! Yes, indeed, I must tell the Emperor I am infinitely pleased with it”.

“We are glad indeed to hear it,” said both the weavers, and proceeded to describe the colours and the uncommon pattern. The old minister listened carefully so as to be able to repeat it when he went back to the Emperor. So he did. The swindlers now demanded more money and more silk and gold for the weaving. They pocketed it all.

And, as before, they were weaving at the bare loom.

Very soon, the Emperor sent another honest official over to see the progress. Will the clothes be ready soon? The official was just like the minister. He looked and looked, but there was nothing there but the empty loom. He saw nothing.

“Well, isn’t that fine?” said both the swindlers. They were exhibiting and explaining the lovely patterns that weren’t there at all.