The king took the club and urged his horse after the ball which he had
thrown. He struck it, and then it was hit back by the courtiers who
were playing with him. When he felt very hot he stopped playing, and
went back to the palace, went into the bath, and did all that the
physician had said. The next day when he arose he found, to his great
joy and astonishment, that he was completely cured. When he entered
his audience-chamber all his courtiers, who were eager to see if the
wonderful cure had been effected, were overwhelmed with joy.
The physician Douban entered the hall and bowed low to the ground. The
king, seeing him, called him, made him sit by his side, and showed him
every mark of honour.
That evening he gave him a long and rich robe of state, and presented
him with two thousand sequins. The following day he continued to load
him with favours.
Now the king had a grand-vizir who was avaricious, and envious, and a
very bad man. He grew extremely jealous of the physician, and
determined to bring about his ruin.
In order to do this he asked to speak in private with the king, saying
that he had a most important communication to make.
"What is it?" asked the king.
"Sire," answered the grand-vizir, "it is most dangerous for a monarch
to confide in a man whose faithfulness is not proved, You do not know
that this physician is not a traitor come here to assassinate you."