At last his physicians , fearing that he would fall ill , ordered that he should go out and amuse himself ; so a hunting party was arranged , but as it was very hot weather the King soon got tired , and said he would dismount and rest at a castle which they were passing . This happened to be the Duchess Grumbly 's castle , and when she heard that the King was coming she went out to meet him , and said that the cellar was the coolest place in the whole castle if he would condescend to come down into it . So down they went together , and the King seeing about two hundred great casks ranged side by side , asked if it was only for herself that she had this immense store of wine . ` Yes , sire , ' answered she , ` it is for myself alone , but I shall be most happy to let you taste some of it . Which do you like , canary , St. Julien , champagne , hermitage sack , raisin , or cider ? ' ` Well , ' said the King , ` since you are so kind as to ask me , I prefer champagne to anything else . ' Then Duchess Grumbly took up a little hammer and tapped upon the cask twice , and out came at least a thousand crowns . ` What 's the meaning of this ? ' said she smiling . Then she tapped the next cask , and out came a bushel of gold pieces . ' I do n't understand this at all , ' said the Duchess , smiling more than before . Then she went on to the third cask , tap , tap , and out came such a stream of diamonds and pearls that the ground was covered with them . ` Ah ! ' she cried , ` this is altogether beyond my comprehension , sire . Someone must have stolen my good wine and put all this rubbish in its place . ' ` Rubbish , do you call it , Madam Grumbly ? ' cried the King . ` Rubbish ! why there is enough there to buy ten kingdoms . ' ` Well , ' said she , ` you must know that all those casks are full of gold and jewels , and if you like to marry me it shall all be yours . '
Now the King loved money more than anything else XXXXX the world , so he cried joyfully : ` Marry you ?
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