The Master Cat; Or, Puss In Boots
A young miller receives only a cat as his inheritance, leaving him with little hope for his future. The clever cat proposes a plan to secure wealth and status for his master by acquiring boots and a bag. He begins by trapping rabbits and partridges to present as gifts from his new title, the Marquis of Carabas, to the King. These generous presents quickly endear the feline servant to the royal court. To further his scheme, the cat tricks the king into helping his master after staging a drowning accident. When clothes are missing, the king provides the finest garments, making the young man look dashing and wealthy. The princess is immediately captivated by the Marquis’s new appearance and charm. The cat continues his deception by threatening farmers to claim vast lands as their own. He repeats this trick with reapers, building a reputation of immense property for his master. Finally, he confronts a powerful ogre who owns the most magnificent castle in the region. Puss challenges the ogre’s ability to shapeshift, provoking him into transforming into a tiny mouse. The cat pounces on the vulnerable creature and eats him before the king arrives. He then greets the royal party as if the castle were already his master’s possession. The king is impressed by the apparent size of the estate and invites them inside. The princess, seeing the fortune and hearing the Marquis’s good qualities, agrees to marry him. Thus, the cat’s cunning efforts transform a poor boy into a nobleman.
