“I deeply regret, my dear sir, the circumstance, but I must kill you. The king can stand you no longer, and here are my orders.”
“All right,” replied the doctor, with surprising unconcern; “I am ready whenever you are. What time would you find it most convenient to perform the little operation?”
While the officer was trying to decide, Coythier continued,—
“But I am very sorry to leave his majesty only for a few days; for I have ascertained by occult science that he can’t survive me more than four days.”
The officer stood struck with amazement, but finally returned and imparted the astounding information to the king.
“O, liberate him instantly. Hurt not a hair of his head,” exclaimed the terrified monarch.
Coythier was of course speedily restored to his place in the king’s confidence—and treasury.
A Long Fee.
Here is what may be called a long fee:—
An English surgeon, named Broughton, had the good fortune to open the commerce of the East Indies to his countrymen through a medical fee. Having been sent from Surat to Agra, in the year 1636, to treat a daughter of the emperor Shah Jehan, he had the great fortune to restore the princess.