How in the world did Beppo find himself in that solitary house in the
middle of the forest? What had happened to him after his flight from
the Fly Inn? In order to answer these questions, it is necessary to
return a few steps backward.
You must then know that, when he left the inn, he ran around the
forest at random, as it was very, very dark. The most acute desire
that stung him was to find the road that led to his house; but
instead he ran like a mad man, here and there, wherever his legs and
fears carried him. At every breath of wind and at every rustle of a
leaf he seemed to hear behind him the terrible Dry-throat, with the
cat in his pocket. Finally, when it became day, he met a disputing
tribe of monkeys that screamed, yelled, and beat one another.
Informing himself of the reason of so much noise, he found out that
the tribe was electing an emperor. Then Beppo, entering into the
middle of the crowd, called for silence.
Suddenly they all became calm. Beppo began to say: “My most dear
colleagues! I understand you wish to elect a leader, and to this
leader you wish to give the title of emperor. Among all those who are
present I see only one who is truly worthy to be called by that great
name.”
“Who may that be? Give us his name!” shouted a thousand voices.
Beppo lowered his eyes and said nothing.
“Who may that one be?” repeated the same voices, screaming louder.
“We wish to know the name--the name--the name!”
“Do you truly wish to know?” then said Beppo. “It displeases one to
be obliged to confess it to you. But the only one who is worthy to be
elected Emperor is I.”
“Long live Beppo! Hurrah for our Emperor! Hurrah for the Emperor of
all the Monkeys!” cried that immense gathering, enthusiastically
beating their hands.
Beppo was immediately carried into the middle of the crowd, to an
old straw chair that, looked at from behind, resembled very much
an imperial throne. Beppo sat down with great gravity and dignity.
Meanwhile a loud flourish of trumpets and music composed of cymbals
and bulls’ horns began to play the Coronation Hymn. Four monkeys,
clothed like pages, presented to the new Emperor a beautiful platter,
embroidered with gold, on which was a crown and an imperial sceptre.
The crown was made of honeycomb tied to a thin iron ring: the sceptre
was a cane of sugar candy.
Beppo took the crown from the tray, and, after having with much
dignity smelt and licked it, placed it on his head. Then he seized
the sceptre, and, not being able to resist the temptation, began to
suck and eat it. But, unfortunately, a monkey that was alongside of
him and that called himself the chamberlain gave Beppo a little push
on the elbow, in order to warn him of the impropriety of the act.
Then the new Emperor stopped suddenly; and, in order to remedy the
scandal, he began to lick his fingers.
In the mean while sixteen monkeys carried on their shoulders a
magnificent litter, adorned with leaves, flowers, and the most
beautiful fruit, and placed it before him. The chamberlain, after
having made two profound bows, said respectfully to the new emperor,
“Majesty, arise! We await you!”
“You await me? And what must I do?”
“For the love of your people, deign to mount on that litter.”
“And, when I do mount the litter, where will they conduct me?”
“To the imperial palace, where you will live and sleep.”
At these words, Beppo made a grimace, which, translated into words,
signified, “To tell the truth, I would rather sleep on the branch of
a tree, as I have always done, than on an imperial bed.” Turning to
the chamberlain, he asked, in a sour-sweet tone, “Excuse me, friend,
I am your Emperor, am I not?”
“Most true.”
“And what does the word “Emperor” mean?”
“It means that you are a monkey that commands all the other monkeys,
and all your acts and desires must be immediately obeyed.”
“Therefore, I tell you frankly that, instead of going in a litter, I
prefer to walk.”
“I am sorry, Your Majesty; but you cannot.”
“Why?”
“Because an emperor who walks on his feet is no longer an emperor.
Walking on your feet you become a monkey, like all the rest of us.”
“Very well. You have just said that all my desires must be obeyed.”
“Of course, Your Majesty. Remember, however, that the most beautiful
prerogative that rulers have is that of not being able to do as they
please.”
“I understand and I thank you,” said Beppo. And, jumping down from
his throne, he mounted the litter.
The trumpets began to play a lively air, and the immense retinue
moved with pompous grandeur.
Arrived at the palace, the Emperor sat down at a table all
beautifully set in the dining-room. Poor Beppo, although he had
become an emperor, had an appetite that resembled hunger, very much
as a brother resembles a sister. But he was not able to appease the
rumblings in his stomach, because all the good things, as soon as
they were brought on the table, were devoured by the retinue. When
the dinner was over, the little monkey was more hungry than at first.
“Oh, pshaw!” he said to himself. “Now I will go to bed, and while
sleeping I shall forget that I have not eaten.”
No sooner said than done. He entered the imperial bedroom, and after
a short time he snored like a dormouse. When he was sleeping nicely,
he was awakened by a symphony of cymbals and horns and thousands and
thousands of voices. He heard cries of, “Long live the Emperor!”
[Illustration]
“Your Majesty,” said the chamberlain, entering into the room, “arise
and appear on the balcony. Your subjects wish to see you.”
“It’s a shame,” said Beppo, rubbing his eyes. “I slept so well.” And,
staggering and yawning, he appeared on the balcony.
“Thanks, friends,” said Beppo, moving his head gracefully. “I am
very happy to see you all. Not having anything more to say to you,
good-night. We will see each other to-morrow.”
At these words the crowd dispersed and Beppo returned to nestle in
his imperial bed. But in the mean time there was another cry and
shout.
“What is that?” he called out, raising his head.
“Your Majesty,” replied the chamberlain, “your subjects desire to see
you again. Deign to appear upon the balcony.”
“All right,” said Beppo. “Just ask them to give me one minute while I
wash my face.”
A minute passed, then two passed, then ten, then twenty, and the
Emperor did not appear. They went into his room, and they could not
find him. The Emperor had disappeared.