because of the grand-vizir's carelessness. The king was very angry,
and had him strangled immediately.

"Sire," went on the vizir to the Greek king, "to return to
the physician, Douban. If you do not take care, you will repent
of having trusted him. Who knows what this remedy, with which
he has cured you, may not in time have a bad effect on you?"

The Greek king was naturally very weak, and did not perceive
the wicked intention of his vizir, nor was he firm enough to keep
to his first resolution.

"Well, vizir," he said, "you are right. Perhaps he did come to take
my life. He might do it by the mere smell of one of his drugs.
I must see what can be done."

"The best means, sire, to put your life in security, is to send
for him at once, and to cut off his head directly he comes,"
said the vizir.

"I really think," replied the king, "that will be the best way."

He then ordered one of his ministers to fetch the physician,
who came at once.

"I have had you sent for," said the king, "in order to free myself
from you by taking your life."

The physician was beyond measure astonished when he heard he was
to die.