Stranica 223 [223]
KING BIZARRE AND PRINCE CHARMING
“'To-morrow!”’ said the king. “All my treasures—”’
“Silence, my son. What portfolio is that?—the muinis¬
ter’s? Good. Sign these three papers for me.”
“They are blank decrees,” said the king. " What do you
wish to do with them?”
‘They are my ordinances. Sign. Well done, my son;
be obedient, and to-morrow noon you shall be as gay as a
lark. First ordinance: If you would live at peace, appear
at peace; I suppress six regiments. Second ordinance: A
penny in a peasant’s pocket is worth twenty in the king’s
treasury; I suppress one fourth of the taxes. Third
ordinance: Liberty is like the sunshine—it is the happiness
and fortune of the poor; I throw open the political prisons
and demolish the debtors’ prisons. You are laughing,
my son; it is a good sign when a patient laughs at his
doctor."
Ves," said Charming, "I am laughing to think of
Wieduwillst’s face to-morrow on reading these ordinances
in the court gazette. Enough of these follies, buffoon
doctor; give me back the papers and put an end to this
farce.”
‘What is this?" said the little man, taking up the decree
of the regency. "God forgive me! it is an abdication.
What are you thinking of, Prince Charming? What!
the inheritance bequeathed to you by your fathers, the
people intrusted to you by God, your name, your honor,
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