“I must look most undignified, to make the old washerwoman laugh so!” said the King. He ceased his hopping and twig-twirling, and frowned. “I grow weary of practice! When shall I be ready to perform real spells in front of my subjects, Sorcerer?”

The charlatan tried to soothe his pupil, assuring him that he would soon be capable of astonishing feats of magic, but Babbitty’s cackling had stung the foolish King more than the charlatan knew.

“Tomorrow,” said the King, “we shall invite our court to watch their King perform magic!”

The charlatan saw that the time had come to take his treasure and flee.

“Alas, Your Majesty, it is impossible! I had forgotten to tell Your Majesty that I must set out on a long journey tomorrow —”

“If you leave this palace without my permission, Sorcerer, my Brigade of Witch-Hunters will hunt you down with their hounds! Tomorrow morning you will assist me to perform magic for the benefit of my Lords and Ladies, and if anybody laughs at me, I shall have you beheaded!”

The King stormed back to the palace, leaving the charlatan alone and afraid. Not all his cunning could save him now, for he could not run away, nor could he help the King with magic that neither of them knew.

Seeking a vent for his fear and his anger, the charlatan approached the window of Babbitty the washerwoman. Peering inside, he saw the little old lady sitting at her table, polishing a wand. In a corner behind her, the King’s sheets were washing themselves in a wooden tub.

The charlatan understood at once that Babbitty was a true witch, and that she who had given him his awful problem could also solve it.

“Crone!” roared the charlatan. “Your cackling has cost me dear! If you fail to help me, I shall denounce you as a witch, and it will be you who is torn apart by the King’s hounds!”

Old Babbitty smiled at the charlatan, and assured him that she would do everything in her power to help.

The charlatan instructed her to conceal herself inside a bush while the King gave his magical display, and to perform the King’s spells for him without his knowledge. Babbitty agreed to the plan, but asked one question.

“What, sir, if the King attempts a spell Babbitty cannot perform?”

The charlatan scoffed.

“Your magic is more than equal to that fool’s imagination,” he assured her, and he retired to the castle, well pleased with his own cleverness.

The following morning all the Lords and Ladies of the kingdom assembled in the palace grounds. The King climbed onto a stage in front of them, with the charlatan by his side.

“I shall firstly make this Lady’s hat disappear!” cried the King, pointing his twig at a noblewoman.

From inside a bush nearby, Babbitty pointed her wand at the hat, and caused it to vanish. Great was the astonishment and admiration of the crowd, and loud their applause for the jubilant King.