Aldovrand walked out of the town unnoticed, and turned towards the country, whistling cheerily to himself. When he had gone some way in the fields, he came to a farmhouse, and in a meadow near, the farmer stood talking to his men. Aldovrand went straight up to him, and, touching his hat, asked if he could give him any work. "Work?" cried the farmer, little thinking he was talking to his late king. "Why, what sort of work can you do?" "Well," said Aldovrand, "I am not very fond of running about, but if you want any one to mind your sheep, or keep the birds from your corn, I could do that nicely." "I tell you what you can do if you like," said the farmer. "I am wanting a goose-boy to take care of my geese. See, there they are on the common. All you will have to do is to see that they don't stray away, and to drive them in at night." "That will suit me exactly," cried Aldovrand. "I will begin at once;" and he went straight on to the common, and when he had collected the geese together lay down to watch them in high good humour. "This is capital," he cried, "and much better than being King at the palace. Here there is no Prime Minister or Chancellor to come worrying;" and he lay watching the geese all day very contentedly. When the Prime Minister and the Chancellor knew that Aldovrand was really gone, they went in a great hurry to Aldebert to tell him that it was his turn to be King. But when he heard how his cousin had run away, he looked frightened. "I will do my best," quoth he; "but I really know very little about the matter. However, you must tell me, and I will do whatever you direct." At hearing this the Prime Minister and the Chancellor were delighted. "Now we have got the right sort of King," they said; and both wagged their heads with joy. So King Aldebert was crowned, and there were great rejoicings all over the country. Early next morning he was up all ready to receive his Ministers, and first came the Prime Minister. "Your Majesty," said he, "I come to you on an affair of much importance. A great part of our city is falling down, and it is very necessary that we should rebuild it at once. If you will command it, therefore, I will see that it is done." "I have no doubt you are right," said the King; "pray let them begin building at once;" and the Prime Minister went away delighted. Scarcely had he gone when in came the Commander-in-Chief. "Your Majesty," said he, "I wish to lay before you the state of our army. Our soldiers have had a great deal of fighting to do lately, and are beginning to be discontented, but the late King, your uncle, would never attend to their wants." "Pray do what you like," said King Aldebert. "To satisfy them," said the Commander-in-Chief, "I think that we should double their pay. This would keep them in a good humour, and all will go well."