I was punctual.
An elderly valet de chambre, who was waiting for me, immediately went to give notice of my arrival, and five minutes after the charming princess made her appearance.

After addressing me in a very complimentary manner, she drew all my answers from her pocket, and enquired whether I had any pressing engagements.
"Your highness may be certain that I shall never have any more important business than to attend to your wishes." "Very well; I do not intend to go out, and we can work." She then shewed me all the questions which she had already prepared on different subjects, and particularly those relating to the cure of her pimples.

One circumstance had contributed to render my oracle precious to her, because nobody could possibly know it, and I had guessed it.

Had I not done so, I daresay it would have been all the same.

I had laboured myself under the same disease, and I was enough of a physician to be aware that to attempt the cure of a cutaneous disease by active remedies might kill the patient.
I had already answered that she could not get rid of the pimples on her face in less than a week, but that a year of diet would be necessary to effect a radical cure.
We spent three hours in ascertaining what she was to do, and, believing implicitly in the power and in the science of the oracle, she undertook to follow faithfully everything ordered.