"Was the compliment you've just paid the Queen prompted by professional considerations?" asked the king, with lowering eye.
"No, Your Majesty. I spoke sincerely and from conviction."
The king remained silent for a long time, his eyes resting on the ground. At last he arose and, moving his hand as if putting something far away from him, said:
"Well, the queen wishes the nurse to be a young woman from the Highlands and of a respectable family. Is there time enough left for you to journey there and select one? Are you not a native of the Highlands? That were--but no, you must not go now. Send Doctor Sixtus; give him precise instructions, and let him go from village to village. He can propose several and you can select the best of them; the others can be sent home with a gratuity, and--but act on your own judgment; only, don't fail to send the doctor off this very day."
"Your Majesty's wishes shall be obeyed."
CHAPTER II.
"How radiant you look!" said Countess Irma, as she met the doctor.
"Perhaps I do," he replied, "for I've just beheld that divine sight,--a heart overflowing with pure love of its fellow-beings;--but excuse me for a moment!" he said, interrupting himself and leaving the countess, while he went into an adjoining apartment and dispatched a telegram to Doctor Sixtus, instructing him to prepare himself for an eight days' journey, and to come to the summer palace forthwith. He then returned to the countess, to whom he gave an account of what had happened.
"Shall I tell you what I think?" asked the countess.
"You know very well that none dare say you 'nay'."