SAUDI ARABIA LONG LINGER THE KING IN RIYADH, THE DESERT CAPITAL OF 
SAUDI ARABIA, NERVOUS COURTIERS HAVE BECOME ACCUSTOMED TO KEEPING ONE EYE 
OUT FOR SIGNS OF REVOLT INSPIRED BY EGYPT'S GAMAL ABDEL NASSER, 
AND ONE EYE ON THE LATEST DISPATCHES FROM THE FRENCH RIVIERA 
. THERE, AILING KING SAUD, 61, IS INSTALLED IN NICE'S GLEAMING 
HOTEL NEGRESCO IN 55 ROOMS ON THE FIFTH FLOOR WITH HIS 
VEILED WIVES, CONCUBINES, A PASSEL OF OFFSPRING, COURTIERS AND MAIDS . 
LAST WEEK THE RUMORS WERE FLYING ALONG THE COTE D'AZUR THAT 
THE DYSPEPTIC SAUD WAS SICK UNTO DEATH . THERE SEEMED GOOD 
REASON FOR CONCERN, FOR SAUD IS SUPPOSED TO BE SUFFERING FROM 
HYPERTENSION, A WEAK HEART, A POLYP IN HIS DIGESTIVE TRACT, ASTHMA, 
AND ALLAH KNOWS WHAT ELSE . WHEN ELEVEN DOCTORS CONVERGED AT 
HIS BEDSIDE, THINGS LOOKED FROM THE OUTSIDE AT LEAST, PRETTY GRIM 
. IT TURNED OUT THAT SAUD WAS COMPLAINING ABOUT HIS LIVER 
(HIS OWN REMEDY : BANANA PUREE IN CHANTILLY CREAM WITH FIVE 
SCOOPS OF ICE CREAM FOR BREAKFAST), AND HIS BLOOD, FOR WHICH 
HIS DOCTORS QUICKLY ORDERED BOTTLES OF PLASMA AS A PRECAUTION . 
SAUD'S SPOKESMAN REASSURINGLY SQUELCHED THE FLURRY OF WORRY . DOCTORS ARE 
THERE, " HE SAID . " NOT BECAUSE THE KING IS 
VERY, VERY SICK BUT BECAUSE OF THE IMPORTANCE AND THE POWER 
OF THEIR PATIENT . " OR, AS RADIO MECCA PUT IT 
TO SAUD'S SUBJECTS : " THE KING IS IN GOOD HEALTH 
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