"Eat this meat," the young man said, "and all your troubles will be over."
Then the sick girl ate bravely of the queer morsel, and was immediately restored to health.
"My father! my father!" she cried, "here is your daughter who is restored to you. See my bright eyes and my rosy cheeks." Then she laughed and sang, and with a smile she again thanked her benefactor.
The old King was nearly crazed with joy, and more than once he went to the young man and embraced him; but that seemed insufficient as an expression of the gratitude that he owed the doctor, and he was loaded with presents of all sorts. He had caskets of gold, precious stones, villages and castles, and more riches than he could wish for. One day the King said to him:
"My son, I want to give you my daughter's hand in marriage, and my crown, if you will accept it."
"Your Majesty," said Lovallec, "permit me to think over your proposition. I desire to return to a foreign country to arrange my affairs, and later I can give you an answer."
"Go, my son," said the King, "but return quickly. The hours seem long to those who love and wait."
The young man went away that very day. Where he was going he alone knew, but his horses seemed to know where his heart turned, and he soon found himself on the way to Offemborough, where one poor woman had had pity on him. It was not long before he had reached the end of his journey. He stopped at the best hotel and had a magnificent dinner set before him. After dining he said to the landlord:
"My friend, what is new in the city?"