The Doctor-in-Ordinary [pp. 382-393]

$82 1~'he Doctor. in- Ordinar~. [April,
THE DOCTOR~IN~ORDINARY.1
t. tace-hunting festivals then so much in vogue,
but solitary sport in the forest's depths.
PRINCE CASIMIR III. had followed his late It once happened that the young Prince
father, Prince Casimir II. upon the throne. while out hunting ~n an insidious autumn
Although the name of the new Prince was evening brought home a fever instead of
distinguished from that of the old merely b? the game he had vainly sought. From his
the addition of a very small stroke, the mark earliest youth he had not been ill. On that
that divided the court life and policy of the account he could rely upon his rugged confather and son was all the greater. Prince Cas- stitution, which sorted well with the firmness
imir II., like so many of the petty princes of of his will; and it was therefore no wonder
the eighteenth century, had held extensive and that upon assuming the government he
brilliant court had lived much and ruled little. should discharge the old court physician
His mistresses and favorites, on the contrary, along with the other servants whom he conruled him and the land completely. But the sidered superfluous. He thought that work
son, who had been obliged from his youth to and the chase would save the expense of a
silently witness this disgraceful housekeep- doctor and apothecary, and, like his favorite
ing, to endure the burden of the pomp and poet Moliere, he had no high opinion of the
ceremonials, and, at the same time, make a medical faculty. But now he had become
cheerful mien besides, straightway upon as- ill, nevertheless, and this alarmed him ten
suming the reins of government became the times more than other people, because he
exact opposite of his father. Half of the was not at all used to it.
household was dismissed, the festivities were The court marshal, a deeply humiliated
discontinued, the favorites disappeared. A remnant of the former court, finally succeeded
dozen confidants had had the ear of the old in pressing the promise from the fever-tossed
Casimir; not a single one had the ear of the patient that he would call in medical aid,
new Casimir. He ruled alone. Not even and henceforth keep a doctor-in-ordinary.
his valet. Je-c/tambre could boa~t of having The tremendous effort which the Prince
any personal influence with him. What an made to overcome his prejudice worked wonincredible innovation for the whole country! derfully. Immediately after having given
A Prince who ruled alone, and a court at the court marshal his word, he fell into a perwhich there was no favorite's influence! spiration which was followed by a deep sleep,
Had not the great comet in the spring fore- and, on waking next morning, Prince Casiboded unheard~of events, the old courtiers mir felt himself free from fever.
would not have believed in the possibility of Now truly was he scared at the promise
such a thing, not even now after it had come he had given the court marshal the day beto pass. fore, and considered his recovery as bought
The palace seemed deserted. The young too dearly. But after considering it a while,
Prince was yet unmarried. His mother had he bit his lips together and muttered to himdied long ago. His sister was married at a self: "A man's word is sacred!" and ordistance. It was a court without women. dered the appointment of a doctor-in-ordiNo wonder it became as silent as a convent nary. But in spite of such a manly, honest
within the old walls. Casimir's only pleas- spint, the wag lurked in the background;
ure was the chase; not those ostentatious for whilst the marshal was triumphantly whis 1 Translated by permission of the author from the pering in the ears of his friends that the new
German of W. H. Riehi system w~ broken and that the old court