They were arguing about something.
When they came up to us they stopped.
They looked very fierce.
One of them pointed to Tutti the Heir and said,
'Look at the wolf-cub.
Three fat pigs are bringing up a wolf-cub.'
Alas!
I knew what they meant."
"Who are the three fat pigs?" the First Fat Man asked.
The other two blushed.
Then the First Fat Man got red in the face, too.
The three of them were huffing and puffing so hard that a glass door leading to the balcony swung open and shut.
"They crowded round Tutti the Heir," the tutor continued, "and they said:
'The three pigs are bringing up a wolf-cub of iron.
Tutti,' they said, 'which side is your heart on?
They have taken out your heart.
You have to grow up mean, cruel and hard-hearted, hating all people.
When the three pigs finally die, the cruel wolf will take their place.' "
"Why didn't you stop them?" the State Councillor shouted, shaking the tutor's shoulder angrily. "Couldn't you see they were traitors who had gone over to the side of the people?"
The tutor was now trembling like a leaf.
He babbled:
"Yes, I guessed it, but I was afraid of them.
They were terribly angry.
And I had no weapon at all.
They had their hands on their swords and were ready to use them.
'Look,' one of them said, 'look at this stuffed dummy.
The wolf-cub is playing with a doll.
They don't let any live children near him.
They gave him a stuffed toy, a doll with a spring inside, to be his playmate.'
Then another said:
'My wife and son are back home in our village.
One day my boy was out with his pea-shooter and hit a pear on a tree in a landlord's orchard.
The landlord ordered my boy to be flogged for insulting the power of the rich, and his servants made my wife pay a big fine.'
Then the Guards all started shouting together and crowded still closer round Tutti the Heir.
The one who had just told them about his son pulled out his sword and stuck it into the doll.
Then the others did, too." (At this Tutti the Heir sobbed louder than ever.) "
'Here, take this, wolf-cub!' they said. 'We'll get to your fat pigs next.' "
"Where are the traitors?" the Three Fat Men thundered.
"They dropped the doll and ran off into the park.
They were shouting
'Long live Prospero the Gunsmith!
Long live Tibul the Acrobat!
Down with the Three Fat Men!' "
"Why didn't the Palace Guards shoot them?" everyone wanted to know.
It was then that the tutor told them the most frightening news.
"The Palace Guards were waving their hats at them.
I was watching from behind the iron fence, and I saw the Guards saying good-bye to them.
The Palace Guards said:
'Comrades, go to the people and tell them that the whole army will soon go over to their side.' "
That is what happened in the park.