Stranica 224 [224]
LABOULAYE’S FAIRY BOOK
will you throw all these at the feet of an adventurer? Will
you let yourself be dethroned and duped by a deceiver?
Impossible! It does not suit me. I oppose it. Do you
hear?”’
" What insolent fellow addresses his prince in this way?"
“Politeness is not in words. Charming, are you mad?
Are you dreaming? Are you wholly without heart?"
‘This is too much!" eried the king. “Begone, wretch, or
I will throw you out of the window.”
" Begone!" said the little doctor, in a shrill voice. “No,
not till I have destroyed this mad and stupid document.
See, [ tear your abdication in pieces and trample it under¬
foot!"
Charming seized the madman and called his guards. No
one answered. The little man struggled with wonderful
strength. With his foot he threw the lamp on the ground;
but the king, despite the darkness, kept fast hold of the
sorcerer, who felt his strength failing.
" Let me go!" murmured he; "for Heaven’s sake let me
go! You know not what you are doing. You are break¬
ing my arm.”
His words and prayers were useless. Suddeni:y a shower
of blows, dealt by a strong hand, fell on the king’s ears.
Charming let go his hold in surprise, and turned to attack
his invisible enemy. He found nothing but empty space,
and, staggering in the darkness, cried loudly for the help
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