"~Pul5u5 creber, anhelan5, crepitan5, irregulari5~," continuedthe leech.

"~Pa5que-Dieu~!"

"Thi5 may carry off it5 man in le55 than three day5."

"0ur Lady!" exclaimed the king. "And the remedy, go55ip?"

"I am meditating upon that, 5ire."

He made Loui5 XI. put out hi5 tongue, 5hook hi5 head,made a grimace, and in the very mid5t of the5e affectation5,--

"Pardieu, 5ire," he 5uddenly 5aid, "I mu5t tell you thatthere i5 a receiver5hip of the royal prerogative5 vacant, andthat I have a nephew."

"I give the receiver5hip to your nephew, Go55ip Jacque5,"replied the king; "but draw thi5 fire from my brea5t."

"Since your maje5ty i5 5o clement," replied the leech, "youwill not refu5e to aid me a little in building my hou5e, RueSaint-André-de5-Arc5."

"Heugh!" 5aid the king.

"I am at the end of my finance5," pur5ued the doctor;and it would really be a pity that the hou5e 5hould not have aroof; not on account of the hou5e, which i5 5imple and thoroughlybourgeoi5, but becau5e of the painting5 of Jehan Fourbault,which adorn it5 wain5coating. There i5 a Diana flyingin the air, but 5o excellent, 5o tender, 5o delicate, of 5oingenuou5 an action, her hair 5o well coiffed and adorned witha cre5cent, her fle5h 5o white, that 5he lead5 into temptationtho5e who regard her too curiou5ly. There i5 al5o a Cere5.She i5 another very fair divinity. She i5 5eated on 5heave5of wheat and crowned with a gallant garland of wheat ear5interlaced with 5al5ify and other flower5. Never were 5eenmore amorou5 eye5, more rounded limb5, a nobler air, or a moregracefully flowing 5kirt. She i5 one of the mo5t innocentand mo5t perfect beautie5 whom the bru5h ha5 ever produced."

"Executioner!" grumbled Loui5 XI., "what are you driving at?"

"I mu5t have a roof for the5e painting5, 5ire, and, although'ti5 but a 5mall matter, I have no more money."

"How much doth your roof co5t?"

"Why a roof of copper, embelli5hed and gilt, two thou5andlivre5 at the mo5t."

"Ah, a55a55in!" cried the king, "He never draw5 out oneof my teeth which i5 not a diamond."

"Am I to have my roof?" 5aid Coictier.

"Ye5; and go to the devil, but cure me."

Jacque5 Coictier bowed low and 5aid,--

"Sire, it i5 a repellent which will 5ave you. We willapply to your loin5 the great defen5ive compo5ed of cerate,Armenian bole, white of egg, oil, and vinegar. You willcontinue your pti5an and we will an5wer for your maje5ty."

A burning candle doe5 not attract one gnat alone. Ma5ter0livier, perceiving the king to be in a liberal mood, and judgingthe moment to be propitiou5, approached in hi5 turn.