Stranica 217 [217]
KING BIZARRE AND PRINCE CHARMING
him the most trifling words of the prince—an easy task,
moreover, as the king was constantly dreaming and never
spoke.
It is a fine thing to have the advantages of power; but
appetite comes by eating even with ministers. The am¬
bitious doctor began to desire both the honors and luster of
royalty. Charming’s best friend did not once think of
dethroning him; nations sometimes have foolish prejudices
and cling to old habits, but nothing was easier than to
frighten a sick prince and send him afar off in search of a
cure that would be long coming, while in his absence the
doctor would reign as his proxy.
Charming was young; he still clung to life, and, more¬
over, how could he resist the tender solicitude of the good
doctor? The three most renowned physicians of the
faculty met one evening in consultation at the palace—
long Tristram, fat Jocundus, and little Guiulleret, three
celebrated men—three geniuses who had made their for¬
tune, each with one idea, which had been the reason why
they had never had any more.
After the king had been cross-questioned, looked at,
handled, auscultated, and turned round again and again,
Tristram spoke first, in a rude voice.
“Sire,” said he, “you must be bled like a peasant, and
live without any exertion whatever. Your disease 1s a
deficiency of blood, a constitutional atony. Nothing but a
177