"Well, you have seen Zamore? He gets already so much a year out of the royal private purse; he is governor of Luciennes, and though he may be laughed at for his blubber lips and complexion, he is courted and called my lord."
"What, when you assert that all men are brothers?"
"That is the reason why I will not acknowledge him my lord."
Chon was beaten with her own weapons; she bit her lips.
"To be a doctor? You shall be a doctor. That was the costume you were measured for. Royal physician, too."
"I? who know not the A B C of medical science. You are mocking at me, lady."
"Does Zamore know anything about governing a castle?"
"I see: you want me to be a sham doctor, a buffoon? The king wants another merry-maker?"
"Why not? Don't you know that the Duke of Tresmes begs my sister to appoint him her monkey. But don't hang your head. Keep that lumpish air for your doctoral uniform. Meanwhile, as you must live on something better than your pills, go and have breakfast with the governor."
"You will be before evening; if we must give you an appetite, we will call in the whipper to the royal pages."
"Go back to my Lord Zamore," continued Chon, taking the silence for consent, or at least submission. "You will find he is fed daintily. Mind not to be an ingrate, or you will be taught what gratitude is."
A lackey conducted Gilbert to the mock governor's dining-room, but he would not eat anything. Nevertheless, when the costume of the doctor in Molière's comedy was brought, he submitted to being shown how he was to wear it.
"I thought that the doctors of that time carried an inkhorn and a quill to write out their prescriptions," suggested Gilbert.
"By Jove they did!" exclaimed the steward. "Let us have the **** complete while we are about it."
The foreman charged to get the articles, also acquainted Chon, who was going to join her sister in Paris, with the astonishing willingness of her pet. She was so pleased that she sent a little purse with some silver in it, to be added to the doctor's girdle along with the inkhorn.
Gilbert sent his thanks, and expressed a wish to be left alone to put on the costume.
"Make haste," said the steward, "that the young lady may see you before she is off to Paris."