“If these two have run off together,” he said to himself, “my task is indeed difficult.  If the man discovers it is the boy he has to fight, my poor Phedo will be cut to pieces in a twinkling.  I do not believe there has been any trouble yet, for the boy does not know that he is to be one of the combatants, and the man would not be likely to suspect it.  Come what may, the fight must not take place for thirteen years.  And in order that I may still better preserve my health and strength to avert the calamity during that period, I will increase my number of chews to forty-two to each mouthful of meat.”

When old Salim reached the city, he soon found that Alberdin and the boy had been there, and that they had gone away together.

“Nothing has happened so far,” said the old man, with a sigh of relief; “and things may turn out all right yet.  I’ll follow them, but I must first find out what that cavalryman had to say to the Princess.”  For he had been told of the interview at the palace.

It was not long before the migratory medical man was brought to the Princess.  There was nothing the matter with her, but she liked to meet with persons of skill and learning to hear what they had to say.

“Have you any specialty?” she asked of the old man.

“Yes,” said he, “I am a germ-doctor.”

“What is that?” asked the Princess.

“All diseases,” replied the old man, “come from germs; generally very little ones.  My business is to discover these, and find out all about them.”

“Then I suppose,” said the Princess, “you know how to cure the diseases?”

“You must not expect too much,” answered the old man.  “It ought to be a great satisfaction to us to know what sort of germ is at the bottom of our woes.”

“I am very well, myself,” said the Princess, “and, so far as I know, none of my household are troubled by germs.  But there is something the matter with my mind which I wish you could relieve.”  She then told the old man how she had determined to marry the victor in the contest for her father’s throne, and how she had seen one for the claimants whom she considered to be a very agreeable and deserving young man; while the other, she had heard, was a great, strong foot soldier, who was probably very disagreeable, and even horrid.  If this one should prove the conqueror, she did not know what she should do.  “You see, I am in a great deal of trouble,” said she.  “Can you do any thing to help me?”

The pretending migratory medical man looked at her attentively for a few moments, and then he said: 

“The reason why you intend to marry the victor in the coming contest, is that you wish to remain here in your father’s palace, and to continue to enjoy the comforts and advantages to which you have been accustomed.”

“Yes,” said the Princess; “that is it.”

“Well, having discovered the germ of your disorder,” said the old man, “the great point is gained.  I will see what I can do.”