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KING BIZARRE AND PRINCE CHARMING “'To-morrow!”’ said the king. “All my treasures—”’ “Silence, my son. What portfolio is that?—the muinister’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, 181
