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A long time ago there lived a king who was famed for his wisdom

through all the land. Nothing was hidden from him, and it seemed

as if news of the most secret things was brought to him through

the air. But he had a strange custom; every day after dinner,

when the table was cleared, and no one else was present, a trusty

servant had to bring him one more dish. It was covered, however,

and even the servant did not know what was in it, neither did

anyone know, for the king never took off the cover to eat of it

until he was quite alone.