"It's wonderful!'' Tutti cried.
The Three Fat Men had never seen him so happy before.
"That's fine!
It really does look good."
The First Fat Man wiped the sweat off his brow and said with an angry growl:
"Doctor Caspar, since you've carried out our order, you may ask for your reward."
For a moment everyone was silent.
A little secretary in a red wig had his pen ready to write down the doctor's wish.
This is what the doctor said:
"Yesterday ten scaffolds were built on Court Square to execute the rebels."
"They will all be executed today," one of the Fat Men interrupted.
"That is what I mean.
This is my request: I want you to grant all the prisoners their lives and their freedom.
I want you to call off the executions and burn down the scaffolds."
The red-wigged secretary dropped his pen in horror at these words.
As it was terribly sharp, it went right through the Second Fat Man's foot.
With a howl he began to spin around on his good foot.
The First Fat Man, the owner of the ugly bruise, laughed spitefully, for he had now been revenged.
"What the devil!" the Second Fat Man yelled, as he yanked out the pen.
"That's a criminal request!
How dare you ask for such things?"
The red-wigged secretary made a dash for his life.
The vase of flowers he knocked over on the way crashed to the floor like a bomb bursting.
Things were beginning to look very bad.
After the Second Fat Man had pulled the pen out of his foot, he threw it after the fast-disappearing secretary.
But a person that fat can never be a good spear-thrower!
The pen stuck one of the sentries.
However, since he was a good soldier, he did not even flinch.
The pen remained where it had stuck until the Guard was changed.
"I demand that you free all the workers who have been sentenced to death.
I demand that all the scaffolds be burned," the doctor repeated in a low but firm voice.
"No! No! No! Never! They'll all be executed!" the Three Fat Men shrieked in reply. It sounded like splintering boards.
"Play dead," Doctor Caspar whispered to the doll.
Suok caught on immediately.
She raised herself on tiptoe, squeaked pitifully, and swayed.
Her dress fluttered like the wings of a butterfly that has been caught, her head dropped, she was about to fall to the floor.
Tutti rushed to her side.
"Oh!
Help!" he cried.
Suok squeaked still more piteously.
"See?" the doctor said.
"The doll will lose her life again.
The springs inside it are very delicate.
It'll be spoiled for ever if you don't do as I say.
I don't think His Highness Tutti the Heir will be very pleased to see his doll turn into a useless pink rag."
Tutti became enraged.
He stamped his feet like a baby elephant.
He shut his eyes tight and shook his head.
"No! No!" he screamed.
"Do as the doctor says! I don't want my doll to die!