He moved them, and in a moment a small snake crawled out, hissing
and darting out its tongue. It was killed, and then it at once
occurred to the King that he had the secret of the cat's death.
He came to me hot-foot with the news, and found me with Du
Laurens who was in the act of ordering me to bed.
I confess that I heard the story almost with apathy, so ill was
I. Not so the physician. After examining the snake, which by
the King's orders had been brought for my inspection, he
pronounced that it was not of French origin. "It has escaped
from some snake-charmer," he said.
The King seemed to be incredulous.
"I assure you that I speak the truth, sire," Du Laurens
persisted.
"But how then did it come in my room?"
"That is what I should like to know, sire," the physician
answered severely; "and yet I think that I can guess. It was put
there, I fancy, by the person who sent up the milk to your
chamber."
"Why do you say so?" Henry asked
"Because, sire, all snakes are inordinately fond of milk.
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