When Platoff reported the left-handed man's words to the Emperor, the latter instantly exclaimed with joy: "I knew that my Russian people had not betrayed me!" and he ordered a melkoscope to be brought on a cushion.  
The melkoscope was brought that very minute, and the Emperor took the flea, and placed it under the glass, first with its back, then with its side, then with its belly upward,—in short, he turned it on all sides, but nothing was to be seen. But even then the Emperor did not lose faith, and said merely: "Bring hither instantly that gunsmith who is downstairs."
 
Platoff announced: "His clothing must be changed. I took him just as he was, and now he is in very evil plight."
 
But the Emperor replied: "Bring him just as he is."
 
[Pg 56]
 
Platoff said: "Here now, you thus-and-so, go yourself and make answer before the eyes of the Emperor."
 
And the left-handed man replied: "Assuredly I will go and will make answer."
 
So he goes, just as he is, in his voluminous trousers, one leg tucked into his boot, the other flapping unrestrainedly, and his old kaftan, whose hooks would not fasten because they were lost, and which had a rent on the stomach; but he took no heed of this—he felt no confusion.
 
"What of it?" he said to himself. "If it pleases the Emperor to see me, I must go; and if I have no tugament with me, I am not to blame, and I will tell how the matter came about."
 
When the left-handed man entered and made his obeisance, the Emperor immediately said to him: "What is the meaning of this, my good man, that[Pg 57] we have examined it thus and thus, and have placed it under the melkoscope, and can descry nothing noteworthy?"
 
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