"I showed it to the Court Physician, and he said—
"'Try the "other" side, then: you've rubbed one side, try the other.'
"So in fear and trembling I begged His Supreme Importance's permission to apply the remedy to his other cheek, and after some demur he agreed, but making it a condition that if it failed to act I was to be immediately beheaded.
"You may imagine with what anxiety I awaited the result of my experiment, and how carefully I rubbed the nettles on.
"It was all in vain: the rash spread under the nettles and the swelling grew greater than ever—evidently my fairy power refused to work—and the Grand Panjandrum was in a fearful rage.
"'Fetch the Executioner!' he cried, in terrible tones. 'I will see this impostor executed before my eyes!' And twenty slaves flew to obey his command.
"'Grin!' whispered the Court Physician behind his hand, 'grin and bear it; it's the only thing to be done.'
"I gave him a wrathful glance, and was about to speak, when at a sign from the Grand Panjandrum, two powerful slaves sprang forward and bound and gagged me.