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ble to live a long time on that。 Be content； Conrad； and go now into the kitchen and prepare the coffee； I am really rather hungry。 Well； Conrad； you still appear discontented。 Have you another grievance in reserve？〃
〃Yes； professor； I have another。 The beadle tells me that the university have offered you a still higher position than the one you now hold。 Is it true？〃
〃Yes； Conrad； it is true。 They wished me to become a regular professor。〃
〃And you declined？〃
〃I declined。 I would have been obliged to be present at all the conferences。 I would have had more trouble； and if I had had the misfortune to become rector I would have been lost indeed； for the rector represents the university； and if any royal personages should arrive it is he who must receive them and welcome them in the name of the university。 No； no； protect me from such honors。 I do not desire intercourse with great men。 I prefer my present position and small salary； and the liberty of sitting quietly in my own study； to a regular professorship and a higher salary； and being forced to dance attendance in the antechambers of great people。 Then； in addition to that； I am delicate； and that alone would prevent me from attending as many lectures as the government requires from a regular high…salaried professor。 You must never receive money for work that you have not done and cannot do。 Now； Conrad； those are my reasons for declining this situation for the second time。 I think you will be contented now； and prepare me an excellent cup of coffee。〃
〃It is a shame； nevertheless；〃 said Conrad； 〃that they should say you are not a regular professor。 But that is because you have no wife。 If the Swedish countess were here； every thing would be changed； your study would be nicely arranged； and you would be so neatly dressed； that no one would dare to say you were not a regular professor。〃
〃But that is no offence； Conrad；〃 cried Gellert； laughing。 〃In the sense in which you understand it； I am more now than if I had accepted this other position； for I am now called an extraordinary professor。〃
〃Well； I am glad that they know that you are an extraordinary professor；〃 said Conrad； somewhat appeased。 〃Now I will go to the kitchen and make the coffee。 That reminds me that I have a letter for you which was left by a servant。〃
He took a letter from the table； and handed it to his master。 While he was breaking the seal； Conrad approached the door slowly and hesitatingly； evidently curious to hear the contents of the letter。 He had not reached the door； when Gellert recalled him。
〃Conrad；〃 said Gellert； with a trembling voice； 〃hear what this letter contains。〃
〃Well； I am really curious；〃 said Conrad； smiling。
Gellert took the letter and commenced reading：
〃My dear and honored professor； will you allow one of your〃
Here he hesitated； and his face flushed deeply。 〃No；〃 he said； softly； 〃I cannot read that； it is too great； too undeserved praise of myself。 Read it yourself。〃
〃Nonsense！〃 said Conrad； taking the letter； 〃the professor is as bashful as a young girl。 To read one's praise； is no shame。 Now listen： 'My dear and honored professor； will you allow one of your pupils to seek a favor from you？ I am rich！ God has enriched you with the rarest gifts of mind and heart； but He has not bestowed outward wealth upon you。 Your salary is not large； but your heart is so great and noble； that you give the little you possess to the poor and suffering； and care for others while you yourself need care。 Allow me； my much…loved master； something of that same happiness which you enjoy。 Grant me the pleasure of offering you （who divide your bread with the poor； and your last thaler with the suffering） a small addition to your salary； and begging you to use it so long as God leaves you upon earth； to be the delight of your scholars； and the pride of Germany。 The banker Farenthal has orders to pay to you quarterly the sum of two hundred thalers； you will to…morrow receive the first instalment。〃
〃'YOUR GRATEFUL AND ADMIRING PUPIL。'〃
〃Hurrah！ hurrah！〃 cried Conrad； waving the paper aloft。 〃Now we are rich； we can live comfortably； without care。 Oh； I will take care of you； and you must drink a glass of wine every day； in order to become strong； and I will bring your dinner from the best eating… house； that you may enjoy your meal in peace and quiet in your own room。〃
〃Gently； gently； Conrad！〃 said Gellert； smiling。 〃In your delight over the money； you forget the noble giver。 Who can it be？ Who among my pupils is so rich and so delicate； as to bestow so generously； and in such a manner？〃
〃It is some one who does not wish us to know his name； professor； 〃cried Conrad； gayly； 〃and we will not break our hearts over it。 But now； sir； we will not content ourselves with bread and coffee； we are rich； and we need not live so poorly！ I will go to the eating… house and bring you a nice broiled capon； and some preserved fruit； and a glass of wine。〃
〃It is true；〃 said Gellert； well pleased； 〃a capon would strengthen me； and a glass of wine； but no； Conrad； we will have the coffee； we have no money to pay for such a meal。〃
〃Well； we can borrow it！ To…morrow you will receive the first quarterly payment of your pension； and then I will pay for your dinner。〃
〃No； Conrad； no！〃 said Gellert； firmly。 〃You should never eat what you cannot pay for immediately。 Go to the kitchen and make the coffee。〃 Conrad was on the point of going discontentedly to obey the command of his master； when a loud and hasty ring was heard at the outer door of the professor's modest lodging。
〃Perhaps the banker has sent the money to…day；〃 cried Conrad； as he hurried off； whilst Gellert again took the letter and examined the handwriting。
But Conrad returned； looking very important。
〃The Prussian major； Quintus Icilius； wishes to speak to the professor； in the name of the king；〃 he said； solemnly。
〃In the name of the king！〃 cried Gellert； 〃what does the great warrior…hero want with poor Gellert？〃
〃That I will tell you；〃 replied a voice from the door； and as Gellert turned； he saw before him the tall figure of a Prussian officer。 〃Pardon me for having entered without your permission。 Your servant left the door open； and I thought〃
〃You thought； I hope； that Gellert would be happy to receive an officer from the king； especially one who bears so celebrated a name；〃 said Gellert； courteously； as he signed to Conrad to leave the rooma sign that Conrad obeyed most unwillingly； and with the firm determination to listen outside the door。
〃In the first place； allow me to say how happy I am to make the acquaintance of so learned and celebrated a man as Professor Gellert；〃 said Quintus； bowing deeply； 〃then I must announce the cause of my appearance。 His majesty the King of Prussia wishes to know you； and he has sent me to conduct you to him at once。〃
〃At once？〃 cried Gellert。 〃But； sir； you must see that I am weak and ill。 The king will not care to see a sick man who cannot talk。〃
Quintus glanced sympathizingly at the poor professor； and said：
〃It is true； you do not look well； and I cannot force you to go with me to…day； but allow me to make one remark： if you think to esc