78 PRINCE FILDERKIN

matter with him, in body or mind, had
better be sure and come to Feeble John if
he wished to be cured. It struck people
that the magician had a curious name, but
the wiser ones said that he was doubtless
called ‘Feeble’ because he was so strong,
as things very often went by contraries when
you had to deal with magicians. So the
caravans rolled in, and the day passed on,
and the evening approached on which the
show was to take place.

But before the evening arrived, some-
thing had happened at the palace which
deserves to be mentioned. The Prince had
expressed to his parents his wish to see the
wild beast show. The King and the Queen
entertained serious doubts as to whether this
could be allowed, and had consulted the
Lord High Treasurer, the Most Noble the
Marquis of Gumbleguzzard, upon the subject.
That great man and enlightened Minister
had advised that such a thing had-never been
heard of, and therefore could not be per-
mitted, and the countenance of the young
Prince became overcast with sorrow when
this opinion had been given. He bethought
himself, however, of asking that the views