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

1884.] 7,tte Boclor-in- Ordi~~a~y. 885
parts of the room. After the lapse of the In a few weeks the report of the doctor's
half-hour, h~ was graciously dismissed. influence had gone throughout the little
The court people, from the marshal down State. In evidence of his growing popular to the lowest footman, were almost crazed ity there came a letter from a distant rela with ctiflosity as to the Prince's daily myste- tive in a neighboring village with a most
rious conferences with the doctor. They humble request. This relative kept a little
listened at the keyhole and heard nothing. grocery store, and had long ago desired to
-There was a deathlike silence in the room. add dry goods as well. But the village mag
Probably the two were consulting in whis- istrate refused him the permission because a
pers in the remotest corner of the room; relative of the magistrate kept a dry goods
and so they concluded-not without rea- store in another little village close by. The
son —that Doctor Miller was their master's doctor's relative turned to the doctor to pro first and only confidant-the only favorite cure a decree from the Prince in his favor,
that Casimir had drawn to himself under and so put an end to the disgraceful nepo.
the ostensible dignity of a doctor-in-ordi- tism of the magistrate. Doctor Miller in nary. formed his relative by return post that
Naturally enough the inquisitive souls soon "Princes are not in the habit of troubling
turned to Miller himself; now covertly, now themselves about the sale of dry goods. Be openly. They flattered, insinuated, teased, sides, I do not, in the slightest manner, pos and cross-examined him but the otherwise sess that personal influence so erroneously at so candid and loquacious young man was tributed to me, and am therefore sorry that
and remained obdurate and ret~cent. So I can do nothing whatever in this matter.
thought his questioners; but really he was But lo! after the lapse of a fortnight the
as open and candid as ever; for he told honest doctor was surprised to receive, in ad everybody that the Prince spoke to him dition to a delicioi~s six-pound cheese, a let only about the weather that his services ter from his relative expressing his sincere
amounted to nothing; that he did not at all thanks. The relative had really received
possess the ear of the Prince that he did the desired license in the mean while, and
not have the slightest influence, and that it believed that the doctor had procured it for
was the most unmerited honor to suppose him with all secrecy and dispatch, and had
him to be His Highness's confidant. No- written his refusal to interfere in the matter
body believed him. All looked upon his purely out of policy; for a courtier, thought
silence and denials as the art of a consum- he, must of course be circumspect in what
mate courtier, and were much surprised that he puts down on paper. In fact, the doctor
this eminent talent for diplomatic secrecy was the innocent cause of the long-sought
had not sooner been discovered in this jolly permission to his relative being so speedily
doctor. Miller laughed in his sleeve at these granted; for the latter had boasted so much
droll people, who detected the finest art of in the village of the doctor's influence, that
deception where he really spoke most unaf- the magistrate became alarmed and granted
fected truth. But what seemed to him the it, lest the Prince's decision should arrive
most ridiculous of all, was the fact that he with a reprimand. But the magistrate now
who so excited the curiosity of the whole wrote to the doctor, too. He set forth the
town was himself the victim of the same good-will he had just evinced to serve the
unsatisfied curiosity. He was dying to know Miller f~mily at all times, and begged that
what had induced the Prince, in such an bygones be bygones, and that the past be
unheard of manner, to distinguish him in forgiven; and that in the future the doctor
public, and at the same time humiliate him might deign to extend his favor to him also,
in private. But he was wise enough to and that he was prepared to reciprocate in
await the solution of the mystery in patience any other manner. The doctor gave away
and silence. a part of the cheese and quietly consumed
VOL. III. -25.