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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 ambitious 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, moreover, 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 fortune, 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
