"The permanent secretary reappeared before the palace at the end of five years. Walking with crutches, he held by the bridle a small donkey which bore a big book on its back.
"'Hasten,' said the officer to him, 'the king is dying.'
"The king in fact was on his death-bed. He turned on the academician and his big book his nearly expiring gaze, and said with a sigh:
"'I shall die, then, without knowing the history of mankind!'
"'Sire,' replied the learned man, who was almost as near death as himself, 'I will sum it up for you in three words: They were born, they suffered, they died!'
"Thus did the king of Persia learn the history of the world in the evening of his life."
XVII
MONSIEUR NICODÈME
hile, at the sign of the Image de Sainte Catherine, my good master, seated on the highest rung of the ladder, was reading Cassiodorus with great pleasure, an elderly man came into the shop, of an arrogant air, and severe aspect. He went straight to Monsieur Blaizot, who smilingly stretched his head over the counter.
"Monsieur," he said, "you are sworn bookseller, and I must take you for a well-conducted man. Nevertheless, in your display of goods a volume of the works of Ronsard is open at the frontispiece, which represents a naked woman. And it is a thing not fit to be looked at."