A Visitor!

Meanwhile, in Schloss Tanvaund, Prince Rupprecht of Saukopf-Bachscuttel is ruminating on matters of state with his chamberlain, Leopold von Fecklenburg, and his chief medical officer, Herr Hans Klenser.

'My lord!' declares Klenser. 'I have come at once as you have ordered!'

'Excellent!' says Rupprecht. 'For I am in a terrible way'.

'My lord, what troubles you so?' says the physician.

Rupprecht groans. ''The awful impact of inflation, Klenser. I should have thought that that was obvious'.

'Indeed sir'.
'I mean look at this',continues the Prince. 'My girth is inflating at such a rate that I don't have any belts to keep my britches up'.
Fecklenburg interjects. 'Is that such a problem, my lord? I was under the impression that you viewed the wearing of your britches rather as an optional activity'.
'Indeed, chamberlain - but there are still many occasions in which I must, of necessity, cover my princely baubles'. Rupprecht's brows furrows as he considers some solutions. 'I could have Faltaire invent some kind of mechanical trousers, perhaps?'
'It's a rather complicated solution', says Fecklenburg carefully. 'I could of course simply purchase you some bigger belts'.
Rupprecht thinks about this for a while and then shrugs. 'I suppose so, Fecklenburg - it might be a simpler solution'.
Klenser nods in agreement. 'Yes, we don't want to reinvent the wheel, do we sir'.
'No, absolutely not, says Rupprecht. Feckleburg and Klenser bow and make to withdraw.

Although', says Rupprecht. The two officials halt. It is not impossible that a low sigh escapes Fecklenburg's lips.
'Although', continues Rupprecht, 'I have often thought that wheels could well do with a bit of reinventing'.
'How so, sir?' asks Klenser.
'Well, I've often found them to be rather too round'.
'Wheels that are round - isn't that rather the point of them, sir', replies the chamberlain.
'Yes, but it can often make it quite difficult to get into and out of my carriage, what with the roundness of the wheels letting the coach move'.
'The round wheels allow the coach to move'. Fecklenburg cocks his head to one side. 'Again sir, forgive me for being dense, but isn't that also sort of the point?'
'Well, I just think that a few straight edges on the wheels would make everything a bit more stable'.
'Wouldn't straight edges on a round wheel actually make them square, my lord?'.
'Oh no, I'm not an idiot - square wheels wouldn't work. But what about a hexagon or an ... octopus'.
'An octagon, you mean sir?'
'No, no, no - don't be ridiculous: The tentacles would get in the way'.

'Riveting intellectual challenge though this conversation is, my lord', says Fecklenburg rather icily. 'I do think that other matters require your attention. There is, outside, the emissary from Zenta that I informed you about earlier, my lord'.

'What?' enquires Rupprecht. 'Oh, Hell's bunions man! Well, send him in then - but he'd better be entertaining'.