HE SENDS FOR THE ROYAL DOCTOR
Pinocchio presently became very anxious about his health. He was sure
that the nights troubles had brought on a high fever, and this, of
course, would keep him from attending to affairs of state. At dawn,
therefore, Pinocchio the First rapped the pan and sent for the doctor
of the court. He was an old man, with a long white beard. Having
listened to the emperors lament, the doctor drew out a string of beads
from his breast, threw them on the floor, and examined them closely,
all the time murmuring strange words. Then he began to count the beads.
At the end of a quarter of an hour he said that his royal majesty was
in excellent health and need not worry.
The marionettes rage knew no bounds, but it would not do to complain
at the very beginning of his career. He thanked the worthy doctor
therefore, and dismissed him with a polite nod of the head. Then he
again rapped furiously on the pan. There promptly appeared eight or ten
servants, who first knelt down at the foot of the imperial bed, and
then advancing with every sign of respect, raised his majesty gently,
and placed him upon a panthers skin that was stretched upon the floor.
Pinocchio allowed them to proceed, until they began to cover his body
with oil. At this, he asked why they anointed him in such a manner.
To make you clean, your majesty, answered the servants, very
respectfully.
Fine cleaning! thought the marionette. How are my face and hands to
get washed this morning? Never mind. Let us see what comes next.
This first operation ended, Pinocchio the First was made to sit
cross-legged to have his hair combed. His attendants covered his hair
with a purple cream and then sprinkled over it a golden powder.
Pinocchios joy upon seeing that glittering substance knew no bounds,
but he overheard one of the servants say in a melancholy undertone:
What a pity his majesty has not a black complexion such as we have!
What a pity! What a pity!
The marionette was moved to the bottom of his heart, and he was about
to say, You may be sure, my dear subjects, I shall do the best I can
to become black, when he heard footsteps approach.