第47章

In the servants' hall the girl still sat by the fire, waiting for him.As he returned he told her to follow him, and left her at the chamber door until he should rejoin her.When the king had had a little wine, he informed him that he had already discovered certain of His Majesty's enemies, and one of the worst of them was the doctor, for it was no other demon than the doctor himself who had been coming every night, and giving him a slow poison.

'So!' said the king.'Then I have not been suspicious enough, for I thought it was but a dream! Is it possible Kelman can be such a wretch? Who then am I to trust?'

'Not one in the house, except the princess and myself,' said Curdie.

'I will not go to sleep,' said the king.

'That would be as bad as taking the poison,' said Curdie.'No, no, sire; you must show your confidence by leaving all the watching to me, and doing all the sleeping Your Majesty can.'

The king smiled a contented smile, turned on his side, and was presently fast asleep.Then Curdie persuaded the princess also to go to sleep, and telling Lina to watch, went to the housemaid.He asked her if she could inform him which of the council slept in the palace, and show him their rooms.She knew every one of them, she said, and took him the round of all their doors, telling him which slept in each room.He then dismissed her, and returning to the king's chamber, seated himself behind a curtain at the head of the bed, on the side farthest from the king.He told Lina to get under the bed, and make no noise.

About one o'clock the doctor came stealing in.He looked round for the princess, and seeing no one, smiled with satisfaction as he approached the wine where it stood under the lamp.Having partly filled a glass, he took from his pocket a small phial, and filled up the glass from it.The light fell upon his face from above, and Curdie saw the snake in it plainly visible.He had never beheld such an evil countenance: the man hated the king, and delighted in doing him wrong.

With the glass in his hand, he drew near the bed, set it down, and began his usual rude rousing of His Majesty.Not at once succeeding, he took a lancet from his pocket, and was parting its cover with an involuntary hiss of hate between his closed teeth, when Curdie stooped and whispered to Lina.

'Take him by the leg, Lina.' She darted noiselessly upon him.

With a face of horrible consternation, he gave his leg one tug to free it; the next instant Curdie heard the one scrunch with which she crushed the bone like a stick of celery.He tumbled on the floor with a yell.

'Drag him out, Lina,' said Curdie.

Lina took him by the collar, and dragged him out.Her master followed her to direct her, and they left the doctor lying across the lord chamberlain's door, where he gave another horrible yell, and fainted.

The king had waked at his first cry, and by the time Curdie re-entered he had got at his sword where it hung from the centre of the tester, had drawn it, and was trying to get out of bed.But when Curdie told him all was well, he lay down again as quietly as a child comforted by his mother from a troubled dream.Curdie went to the door to watch.

The doctor's yells had aroused many, but not one had yet ventured to appear.Bells were rung violently, but none were answered; and in a minute or two Curdie had what he was watching for.The door of the lord chamberlain's room opened, and, pale with hideous terror, His Lordship peeped out.Seeing no one, he advanced to step into the corridor, and tumbled over the doctor.Curdie ran up, and held out his hand.He received in it the claw of a bird of prey - vulture oreagle, he could not tell which.

His Lordship, as soon as he was on his legs, taking him for one of the pages abused him heartily for not coming sooner, and threatened him with dismissal from the king's service for cowardice and neglect.He began indeed what bade fair to be a sermon on the duties of a page, but catching sight of the man who lay at his door, and seeing it was the doctor, he fell upon Curdie afresh for standing there doing nothing, and ordered him to fetch immediate assistance.Curdie left him, but slipped into the King's chamber, closed and locked the door, and left the rascals to look after each other.Ere long he heard hurrying footsteps, and for a few minutes there was a great muffled tumult of scuffling feet, low voices and deep groanings; then all was still again.

Irene slept through the whole - so confidently did she rest, knowing Curdie was in her father's room watching over him.