He then dismissed her, and returning to the king's chamber, seated himself behind a curtain at the head of the bed, on the side farthest from the king.

He told Lina to get under the bed, and make no noise.
About one o'clock the doctor came stealing in.

He looked round for the princess, and seeing no one, smiled with satisfaction as he approached the wine where it stood under the lamp.

Having partly filled a glass, he took from his pocket a small phial, and filled up the glass from it.
The light fell upon his face from above, and Curdie saw the snake in it plainly visible.

He had never beheld such an evil countenance: the man hated the king, and delighted in doing him wrong.
With the glass in his hand, he drew near the bed, set it down, and began his usual rude rousing of His Majesty.