nothing else. Seriously, can you not help me to get out of here?"

"So that you may fall in love with Donna Faustina as soon as
possible, I suppose," answered Giovanni with a laugh. "It seems to
me that there is but one thing to do, if you are really strong
enough. Send for your clothes, get up, go into the drawing-room
and thank the princess for her hospitality."

"That is easily said. Nothing is done in this house without the
written permission of the old prince, unless I am much mistaken.
Besides, there is no bell. I might as well be under arrest in the
guard-room of the barracks. Presently the doctor will come and
bleed me again and the princess will send me some more boiled
grass. I am not very fat, as it is, but another day of this diet
will make me diaphanous--I shall cast no shadow. A nice thing, to
be caught without a shadow on parade!"

"I will see what I can do," said Giovanni, rising. "Probably, the
best thing would be to send your military surgeon. He will not be
so tender as the other leech, but he will get you away at once. My
wife wished me to say that she sympathised, and hoped you might
soon be well."

"My homage and best thanks to the princess," answered Gouache,
with a slight change of tone, presumably to be referred to his
sense of courtesy in speaking of the absent lady.

So Giovanni went away, promising to send the surgeon at once. The
latter soon arrived, saw Gouache, and was easily persuaded to
order him home without further delay. The artist-soldier would not