"You can write to the College of Medicine if you really wish for the facts. I myself made very much the same query, and was shown as proof a letter from its president to one of the medical journals." But even this did not induce the Prime Minister to regard the matter very seriously. "After all, sir," said he, "viewed in a certain light it is only a method of trade competition; for when the sales of patent medicines decrease no doubt the doctors begin to profit." "The State has thought it worth while," said the King, "to give to the medical profession a certificated monopoly. Is it outside its province to warn the public against charlatans?" "Is not charlatans an extreme term? I believe, sir, that many of these patents are quite excellent and in their first effects a stimulant to health; and in these days when 'suggestion' and 'faith-healing' are so much talked of it is an arguable proposition that those drugs which give to mind and body a certain preliminary incentive afford the best leverage for faith to work on. Of course there are a great many matters which need control, supervision, and reform; vested interests do tend to create abuses; but I must remind your Majesty that in the pushing of its reforms the Government has not been quite a free agent. In many respects we have been greatly hindered; that is still the crux of the political situation." "Ah, yes," said the King, "you do well to remind me. You are, I take it, now engaged in educating the country; the terms of your proposals are before it. May I ask whether your anticipations of popular support have proved correct?" "We find no reason to alter our opinion as to the necessary solution." "Or as to your determination to proceed with it?" The Prime Minister was very urbane. "Your Majesty has been good enough to indicate a date when all difficulties will be removed." It was a sufficient statement of what was in store. "Thank you," said the King, "I did wish to know. Have you done well at the by-elections?" "Beyond the inevitable tear-and-wear due to our period of office we have nothing to complain of." "I have been longer in office than you," said the King, smiling rather sadly, "and I suppose that in my case the inevitable wear-and-tear has been proportionately greater. You will make allowances, therefore, if I have been slow in arriving at my conclusion. After the date we agreed upon I think you will have no ground for complaint." "I hope your Majesty has never regarded as a complaint the advice which I have felt bound to offer." "There is a complaint somewhere," said the King; "perhaps a constitutional one. All I wanted to avoid was quack remedies."