The cat ran ahead to a massive castle at the end of the road. This castle actually belonged to a powerful ogre — it was the ogre's land that the farmers had been working on. The ogre was the real owner of everything the king had seen.

The cat knocked on the castle door. The ogre opened it. He was enormous — twice the height of a normal man, with a face like a bulldog and hands like dinner plates.

"What do you want, little cat?" growled the ogre.

"Sir, I have heard that you have amazing magical powers," said the cat, bowing politely. "They say you can transform yourself into any animal. I simply had to come and see for myself. But I suspect it is just a rumour. Surely nobody can do such a thing."

The ogre puffed out his chest with pride. "A rumour? I'll show you!"

He closed his eyes, and in a flash, he transformed into a huge lion. The lion roared so loudly that the walls shook. The cat jumped onto a shelf, his fur standing on end.

"Impressive! Very impressive!" said the cat, once the ogre had changed back. "But turning into a large animal — that must be easy for someone your size. I bet you can't turn into something small — like a mouse. That would be truly amazing."

"Of course I can!" said the ogre. And in an instant, he transformed into a tiny mouse that scurried across the floor.

The cat pounced. SNAP! He caught the mouse and ate it in one bite.

And just like that, the ogre was gone, and the castle belonged to the cat.

Minutes later, the king's carriage arrived at the castle gates. The cat was standing at the entrance, wearing his boots and his biggest smile.

"Welcome, Your Majesty, to the castle of the Marquis of Carabas!"

The king could not believe his eyes. The castle was magnificent — with towers and gardens and fountains and rooms full of treasure. Inside, a great feast was already prepared (the ogre's servants had cooked it for their now-eaten master).

"My dear Marquis," said the king, looking at the castle, the land, and the feast, "you are the most impressive nobleman I have ever met. I would be honoured if you would marry my daughter."

The miller's son — who was now, for all practical purposes, the Marquis of Carabas — looked at the princess. She smiled at him. He smiled back.

"I would be honoured, Your Majesty," he said.

And so the youngest son of a poor miller married a princess and lived in a castle, all because of a clever cat in a pair of leather boots.

The cat himself became a great lord and never had to chase mice again — unless he wanted to, which, being a cat, he sometimes did. Just for old times' sake.