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| The Emperor now sent another officer of his court to see how the men were getting on, and to ascertain whether the cloth would soon be ready. | Потом король послал к ткачам другого достойного сановника. Он должен был посмотреть, как идет дело, и узнать, скоро ли работа будет закончена. |
| It was just the same with this gentleman as with the minister; he surveyed the looms on all sides, but could see nothing at all but the empty frames. | С ним было то же самое, что и с первым. Уж он смотрел, смотрел, а все равно ничего, кроме пустых станков, не высмотрел. |
| "Does not the stuff appear as beautiful to you, as it did to my lord the minister?" asked the impostors of the Emperor's second ambassador; at the same time making the same gestures as before, and talking of the design and colors which were not there. | - Ну, как вам нравится? - спросили его обманщики, показывая ткань и объясняя узоры, которых и в помине не было. |
| "I certainly am not stupid!" thought the messenger. | "Я не глуп, - думал сановник. |
| "It must be, that I am not fit for my good, profitable office! | - Значит, я не на своем месте? Вот тебе раз! |
| That is very odd; however, no one shall know anything about it." | Однако нельзя и виду подавать!" |
| And accordingly he praised the stuff he could not see, and declared that he was delighted with both colors and patterns. | И он стал расхваливать ткань, которой не видел, восхищаясь красивым рисунком и сочетанием красок. |
| "Indeed, please your Imperial Majesty," said he to his sovereign when he returned, "the cloth which the weavers are preparing is extraordinarily magnificent." | - Премило, премило! - доложил он королю. |
| The whole city was talking of the splendid cloth which the Emperor had ordered to be woven at his own expense. | Скоро весь город заговорил о восхитительной ткани. |
| And now the Emperor himself wished to see the costly manufacture, while it was still in the loom. | Наконец и сам король пожелал полюбоваться диковинкой, пока она еще не снята со станка. |
| Accompanied by a select number of officers of the court, among whom were the two honest men who had already admired the cloth, he went to the crafty impostors, who, as soon as they were aware of the Emperor's approach, went on working more diligently than ever; although they still did not pass a single thread through the looms. | С целою свитой избранных придворных и сановников, в числе которых находились и первые два, уже видевшие ткань, явился король к хитрым обманщикам, ткавшим изо всех сил на пустых станках. |
