The Diplomatic Reply : An Animal Story

Let us enjoy reading this story of The Diplomatic Reply .

The Lion, the king of animals, one day called all his subjects to his court, a vast, smelly cave.

The bear felt nauseated by the smell and held his nose. The lion was offended and gave him a blow that knocked him senseless.

"Does my court smell that bad?" he asked the monkey.

"Not at all, Your Highness," said the monkey, ingratiatingly. "I would say your court smells like a bouquet of flowers."

The lion knew this was not possible and knocked him senseless too.

The other animals, including a fox, began to sidle out of the cave but the lion caught the fox's tail and pulled him back.

"Let us have your opinion," he said. "Does my court smell?"

"I have a terrible cold, Your Highness," said the fox, forcing a sneeze. "I cannot smell a thing so I cannot tell you whether your court smells or not."

The lion liked his clever reply and gave him an important post at his court.

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