How did this sweet little girl ever get into the Palace?"
The doctor did not know what to think.
He tried talking to the long-nosed official again.
"What's wrong with the child?
Is it diphtheria?"
"No, she has a hole in her chest."
"Do you mean there's something the matter with her lungs?"
"She has a hole in her chest," the man repeated.
The doctor was too polite to argue.
"Poor child," he said.
"This is not a child, it's a doll," the man said.
Just then the carriage rolled up to the doctor's house.
The Palace official and Captain Bonaventura followed the doctor inside.
He took them straight to his workshop.
"If this is a doll, then why have you come to me for help?"
The Palace official began to explain, and at last everything became clear.
Auntie Ganimed, who was still excited from all the goings-on that morning, was peeping through the keyhole.
She saw the terrible Captain Bonaventura.
He stood there, leaning on his sword and jiggling his foot in its huge top-boot.
His spurs looked like comets.
Auntie Ganimed saw the Palace official sit a sickly looking little girl wearing a fancy pink dress in the armchair.
The child bent her curly head and seemed to be looking down at her lovely little satin slippers with gold rosebuds instead of pompons.
A strong wind was banging the shutter of the hall window, and the noise made it difficult for Auntie Ganimed to hear what was going on.
But she was still able to catch some of what was said.
The Palace official showed Doctor Caspar the order signed by the State Councillor.
The doctor read it and looked worried.
"The doll must be repaired by tomorrow morning," the Palace official said as he rose.
Captain Bonaventura's spurs jangled.
"Yes ... but...." and Doctor Caspar shrugged. "I'll certainly do my best. But I can't promise to fix it.
I don't know anything about the springs that make this magic doll work.
I'll have to study it carefully and see what's been broken. Then I'll have to make new parts to fit.
And all of this will take a lot of time.
Perhaps my knowledge will not be enough.
Then I won't be able to restore the wounded doll to health.
I'm not at all sure, gentlemen.
You've given me so little time.
Only one night....
I can't promise you anything."
The official interrupted him.
Raising a finger he said:
"Tutti the Heir's grief is too great for any more delays.
The doll must be brought to life again by tomorrow morning.
That's an order of the Three Fat Men!
No one dares to disobey their orders!
Tomorrow morning you will bring the mended, healthy doll to the Palace of the Three Fat Men."
"Yes ... but...."
"And no 'buts' about it!
The doll must be repaired by tomorrow morning.
If you're successful, you will receive a big reward. If not, you'll be punished severely."
The doctor was stunned.