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!”
“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.