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ering him during his sojourn there； it was rendered impossible by the change in the king's plans。 Frederick made a tour in his Rhine provinces。 At Cleves he dismissed his followers； and they returned to Berlin。
The king declared he needed rest； and wished to pass a few days in undisturbed quiet at the castle of Moyland。
No one accompanied him but Colonel Balby； his intimate friend； and his cabinet…hussar； Deesen。 The king was in an uncommonly good humor； and his eyes sparkled with delight。 After a short rest in his chamber； he desired to see Colonel Balby。
To his great astonishment； the colonel found him searching through a trunk； which contained a few articles of clothing little calculated to arrest the attention of a king。
〃Balby；〃 said the king； solemnly； but with a roguish sparkle of the eye； 〃I wish to present you this plain brown suit。 I owe you a reward for your hearty friendship and your faithful services。 This is a princely gift。 Take it as a mark of my grateful regard。 That you may be convinced； Balby； that I have long been occupied in preparing this surprise for you； I inform you that these rich articles were made secretly for you in Berlin； by your tailor； I packed them myself； and brought them here for you。 Accept them； then； my friend； and wear them in memory of Frederick。〃
With a solemn bow； the king offered Balby the clothes。
The colonel received this strange present with an astonished and somewhat confused countenance。
The king laughed merrily。 〃What；〃 he said； pathetically； 〃are you not contented with the favor I have shown you？〃
Balby knew by the comic manner of the king that the sombre suit hid a secret； and he thought it wise to allow the king to take his own time for explanation。
〃Sire；〃 he said； emphatically； 〃content is not the word to express my rapture。 I am enthusiastic； speechless at this unheard…of favor。 I am filled with profound gratitude to your majesty for having in vented a new costume for me； whose lovely color will make me appear like a large coffee…bean； and make all the coffee sisters adore me。〃
The king was highly amused。 〃This dress certainly has the power of enchantment。 When Colonel Balby puts on these clothes he will be invisible； but he shall not undergo this transformation alone。 See； here is another suit； exactly like yours； and this is mine。 When I array myself in it； I am no longer the king of Prussia； but a free； happy man。〃
〃Ah； you are speaking of a disguise；〃 cried the colonel。
〃Yes； we will amuse ourselves by playing the role of common men for a while； and wander about unnoticed and undisturbed。 Are you agreed； Balby； or do you love your colonel's uniform better than your freedom？〃
〃Am I agreed； sire？〃 cried the colonel； 〃I am delighted with this genial thought。〃
〃Then take your dress； friend； and put it on。 But stay。 Did you bring your violin with you； as I told you？〃
〃Yes； sire。〃
〃Well； then； when you are dressed； put your violin in a case； and with the case under your arm； and a little money in your pocket； go to the pavilion at the farthest end of the garden； there I will meet you。 Now hasten； friend； we have no time to lose。〃
According to the king's orders； Colonel Balby dressed and went to the pavilion。 He did not find the king； but two strange men there。 One of them had on a brown coat； the color of his own； ornamented with large buttons of mother…of…pearl； black pantaloons； and shoes with large buckles； set with dull white stones； the lace on his sleeves and vest was very coarse。 He wore a three…cornered hat； without ornament； from under the hat fell long； brown； unpowdered hair。
Behind this stranger there stood another； in plain； simple clothes； under one arm he carried a small bag； and under the other a case that contained either a yard…stick or a flute。 He returned the colonel's salutation with a grimace and a profound bow。 A short pause ensued； then the supposed strangers laughed heartily and exclaimed：
〃Do you not know us； Balby？〃
Their voices started the colonel； and he stepped back。
〃Sire； it is yourself。〃
〃Yes； it is I； Fredericknot the king。 Yes； I am Frederick； and this capital servant is my good Deesen； who has sworn solemnly not to betray our incognito； and to give no one reason to suspect his high dignity as royal cabinet…hussar。 For love of us he will； for a few days； be the servant of two simple； untitled musicians； who are travelling around the world； seeking their fortunes； but who； unfortunately； have no letters of recommendation。〃
〃But who will recommend themselves by their talents and accomplishments。〃
The king laughed aloud。 〃Balby； you forget that you are a poor musician； chatting with your comrade。 Truly your courtly bow suits your dress as little as a lace veil would a beggar's attire； you must lay your fine manners aside for a short time； for； with them； you would appear to the village beauties we may meet like a monkey； and they would laugh at instead of kissing you。〃
〃So we are to meet country beauties；〃 said Colonel Balby； no longer able to suppress his curiosity。 〃Tell me； sire； where are we going； and what are we going to do？ I shall die of curiosity。〃
〃Make an effort to die；〃 said the king； gayly； 〃you will find it is not so easy to do as you imagine。 But I will torture you no longer。 You ask what we are going to do。 Well； we are going to amuse ourselves and seek adventures。 You ask where we are going。 Ask that question of the sparrow that sits on the house…topask where it is going； and what is the aim of its journey。 It will reply； the next bush； the nearest tree； the topmost bough of a weeping willow； which stands on a lonely grave； the mast of a ship； sailing on the wide sea； or the branch of a noble beech； waving before the window of a beautiful maiden。 I am as incapable of telling you the exact aim and end of our journey； friend； as that little bird would be。 We are as free as the birds of the air。 Come！ come！ let us fly； for see； the little sparrow has flownlet us follow it。〃
And with a beaming smile illuminating his countenance； like a ray of the morning sun； the king took the arm of his friend； and followed by his servant and cabinet…hussar； Deesen； left the pavilion。
As they stood at the little gate of the garden； the king said to Deesen；
〃You must be for us the angel with the flaming sword； and open the gates of paradise； but not to cast us out。〃
Deesen opened the gate； and our adventurers entered 〃the wide； wide world。〃
〃Let us stand here a few moments；〃 said the king； as his glance rested upon the green fields spread far and wide around him。 〃How great and beautiful the world appears to…day！ Observe Nature's grand silence； yet the air is full of a thousand voices； and the white clouds wandering dreamily in the blue heavens above； are they not the misty veils with which the gods of Olympus conceal their charms？〃
〃Ah！ sire；〃 said Balby； with a loving glance at the king's hand some face〃ah； sire； my eyes have no time to gaze at Nature's charms； they are occupied with yourself。 When I look upon you； I feel that man is indeed made in the image of God。〃
〃Were I a god； I should not be content to resemble this worn； faded face。 Come； now；