Meanwhile , his daughter , herself nearly mad with grief , gave orders that the white slipper should be sought for far and wide ; and so it was , but even the cleverest divers could find no trace of it at the bottom of the river . When it became clear that the slipper must have been carried out to sea by the current , Diamantina turned her thoughts elsewhere , and sent messengers in search of the doctor who had brought relief to her father , begging him to make another slipper as fast as possible , to supply the place of the one which was lost . But the messengers returned with the sad news that the doctor had died some weeks before , and , what was worse , his secret had died with him . In his weakness this intelligence had such an effect on the king that the physicians feared he would become as ill as before . He could hardly be persuaded to touch food , and all night long he lay moaning , partly with pain , and partly over his own folly in not having begged the doctor to make him several dozens of white slippers , so that in case of accidents he might always have one to put on . However , by-and-by he saw that it was no use weeping and wailing , and commanded that they should search for his lost treasure more diligently than ever . What a sight the river banks presented in those days ! It seemed as if all the people in the country were gathered on them . But this second search was no more fortunate than the first , and at last the king issued a proclamation that whoever found the missing slipper should be made heir to the crown , and should marry the princess . Now many daughters would have rebelled at being disposed of in the manner ; and it must be admitted that Diamantina 's heart sank when she heard what the king had done . Still , she loved her father so much that she desired his comfort more than anything else in the world , so she said nothing , and only bowed her head . Of course the result of the proclamation was that the river banks became more crowded than before ; for all the princess 's suitors from distant lands flocked to the spot , each hoping that he might be the lucky finder . Many times a shining stone at the bottom of the stream was taken for the slipper itself , and every evening saw a band of dripping downcast men returning homewards . But one youth always lingered longer than the rest , and night would still see him engaged in the search , though his clothes stuck to his skin and his teeth chattered . One day , when the king was lying on his bed racked with pain , he heard the noise of a scuffle going on in his antechamber , and rang a golden bell that stood by his side to summon one of his servants . ` Sire , ' answered the attendant , when the king inquired what was the matter , ` the noise you heard was caused by a young man from the town , who has had the impudence to come here to ask if he may measure your majesty 's foot , so as to make you another slipper in place of the lost one . ' ` And what have you done to the youth ? ' said the king . ` The servants pushed him out of the palace , and , added a few blows to teach him not to be insolent , ' replied the man . ` Then they did very ill , ' answered the king , with a frown .
` He came here from kindness , and there was no reason XXXXX maltreat him . '
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