Frederick the Great and His Cou

ance, the baron was waiting in the ante-room, in a state of smiling security, entertaining his friend Fredersdorf with an account of his

Fredersdorf stood up, not however to greet the minister, but to pass him with a cold, contemptuous smile on their way t

he asked, extending his hand as if he wo

rs. "These are papers which his majesty handed me, that I might exa

pers-" but he became suddenly silent, for the door of the

not rich, although you are the minister of finance, and I understand that you live in a limited way, scarcely worthy of your rank. We must alter this, and happily I know a house which even Baron von Pollnitz declares is worthy a nobleman. I

what house your majesty speaks," he stammered, "of what house

ty; and is entirely worthy to possess the house which I have presented to him. You are well acquainted wit

ch the presence of the king usually imposed. "No, no, your majesty is ple

hat this house already belonged to you, merely because you desired that it should do so. I would have smiled at this childish folly, if it had remained an amusement for your unemployed f

sty; I do not know how I have

gst the many that you daily and hourly commit, I speak. You know that it has pleased you to declare the house, which I have j

inister von Boden, glancing kindly at Pollni

bowing silently, and t

majesty has so kindly presented to me; he also selected the decorations and furniture, and this may have led him to believe that the house, which had been built and furnished according to his taste, might become his own. I am much indebted to Pollnitz, for a

this proposition?" said the

wish to ask the minister whether he will only take up those mortgages which

only a few thousand dollars, it shall be paid from my purse; and that my gift to you, Boden, may have no drawback, Pollnitz may consider himself thus repaid for his trouble about the plans and arrangements of your house. But woe to you, Pollnitz, if I should again hear of

ll create no new debts; and how is it possible to avoid that, when I have not even the money to pay the old o

ly for a short time, and then

ks of merry Mr. Raths, my monkey. But even Mr. Raths was punished yesterday because he was too daring with his monkey tricks. Mark this, Baron von Pollnitz, I will pay your debts this time; but if it should occur to you to make new ones, I will fo

e window, to which he had withdrawn on the appearance of the king, and had been a trembling, despairing witness to this scene, which had disturbed his plans and hopes. Suddenly the ki

nd cunning? And you, also, Fredersdorf, you whom I have loved, not as a master loves his servant, but as a dear friend, with whom I have often forgotten that I was a prince, and only remembered that I was with a friend, who had a feeling heart for my cares and sorrows, and entertained a little love not for

I love you, how my heart is bound up in yours; but I have a wild and ambitious heart, and in the thirst of my ambition I was not satisfied to remain the servant of my king. I wished to become p

rsdorf, you are ambitious; I will gratify you in this as far as possible, but you must conquer the desire to control my will, and influence my resolutions. A king is only answerable to God," proceeded the king, "and only from God can he receive control or commands. I am the servant of God, but the master of men. I will gratify your ambition, Fr

he pressed his lips to the han