he king, had
from the conversation of my thoughts been absent then." The countess
heard the whole of this confession without saying a word either of
approval or of blame, but she strictly questioned Helena as to the
probability of the medicine being useful to the king. She found that it
was the most prized by Gerard de Narbon of all he possessed, and that he
had given it to his daughter on his deathbed; and remembering the solemn
promise she had made at that awful hour in regard to this young maid,
whose destiny, and the life of the king himself, seemed to depend on the
execution of a project (which though conceived by the fond suggestions
of a loving maiden's thoughts, the countess knew not but it might be the
unseen workings of Providence to bring to pass the recovery of the king,
and to lay the foundation of the future fortunes of Gerard de Narbon's
daughter), free leave she gave to Helena to pursue her own way, and
generously furnished her with ample means and suitable attendants; and
Helena set out for Paris with the blessings of the countess, and her
kindest wishes for her success.

Helena arrived at Paris, and by the assistance of her friend the old
Lord Lafeu, she obtained an audience of the king. She had still many
difficulties to encounter, for the king was not easily prevailed on to
try the medicine offered him by this fair young doctor. But she told him
she was Gerard de Narbon's daughter (with whose fame the king was well
acquainted), and she offered the precious medicine as the darling
treasure which contained the essence of all her father's long experience
and skill, and she boldly engaged to forfeit her life, if it failed to
restore his majesty to perfect health in the space of two days. The king
at length consented to try it, and in two days' time Helena was to lose
her life if the king did not recover; but if she succeeded, he promised
to give her the choice of any man throughout all France (the princes
only excepted) whom she could like for a husband; the choice of a
husband being the fee Helena demanded if she cured the king of his
disease.

Helena did not deceive herself in the hope she conceived of the efficacy
of her father's medicine. Before two days were at an end, the king was
restored to perfect health, and he assembled all the young noblemen of
his court together, in order to confer the promised reward of a husband
upon his fair physician; and he desired Helena to look round on this
youthfu