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ot that you are in yourselves objectionable； on the contrary； you appear to me to be harmless and amiable men； but because of your purses。 I fear that you do not know the charges of first…class hotels； and will be amazed at your bill。 Your brother； however； assures me that you can afford to pay for all you order； that you make a great deal of money； that you are a virtuoso； give concerts； and sell tickets at the highest price。 Now； I will convince myself if you are a great musician and can support yourself。 Whistle me something； and I will decide as to the pie。〃
The king listened to all this with suppressed merriment； and gave Balby a significant look。
〃Bring my flute； brother； I will convince madame that I am indeed a virtuoso。〃
〃Let us hear；〃 said Madame Blaken； seating herself upon the sofa from which the king had just arisen。
Frederick made； with indescribable solemnity； a profound bow to the hostess。 He placed the flute to his lips and began to play； but not in his accustomed masterly stylenot in those mild； floating melodies； those solemn sacred； and exalted strains which it was his custom to draw from his beloved flute。 He played a gay and brilliant solo； full of double trills and rhapsodies； it was an astounding medley； which seemed to make a triumphal march over the instrument； overcoming all difficulties。 But those soft tones which touched the soul and roused to noble thoughts were wanting； in truth； the melody failed； the music was wanting。
Madame Blaken listened with ever…increasing rapture to this wondrous exercise； these trills； springing from octave to octave； drew forth her loudest applause； she trembled with ecstasy； and as the king closed with a brilliant cadence； she clapped her hands and shouted enthusiastically。 She stood up respectfully before the artiste in the simple brown coat； and bowing low； said earnestly：
〃Your brother was right； you can surely earn much money by your whistle。 You whistle as clearly as my mocking…bird。 You shall have the pieI go to order it at once；〃 and she hastened from the room。
〃Well；〃 said the king； laughing； 〃this was a charming scene； and I thank you for it； brother Henry。 It is a proud and happy feeling to know that you can stand upon your feet； or walk alone； in other words； that you can earn a support。 Now； if the sun of Prussia sets； I shall not hunger； for I can earn my bread； Madame Blaken assures me of it。 But； Henry； did I not play eminently？〃
〃That was the most glittering； dazzling piece for a concert which I ever heard；〃 said Balby； 〃and Mr。 Zoller may well be proud of it； but I counsel him not to play it before the King of Prussia； he would； in his jealousy； declare it was not music； nothing but sound； and signifying nothing。〃
〃Bravo； my friend； 〃said Frederick； taking his friend's hand； 〃yes； he would say that。 Mr。 Zoller played like a true virtuoso； that is to say； without intellect and without soul； he did not make music； only artistic tones。 But here comes the pasty； and I shall relish it wondrous well。 It is the first meat I have ever earned with my flute。 Let us eat； brother Henry。〃
CHAPTER XV。
THE KING WITHOUT SHOES。
The pie was really worthy of its reputation； and the king enjoyed it highly。 He was gay and talkative； and amused himself in recalling the varied adventures of the past five days。
〃They will soon be tempi passati； these giorni felice；〃 he said； sighing。 〃To…day is the last day of our freedom and happiness； to… morrow we must take up our yoke； and exchange our simple brown coats for dashing uniforms。〃
〃I know one； at least； who is rejoicing；〃 said Balby； laughing； 〃the unhappy Deesen； who has just sworn most solemnly that he would throw himself in the river if he had to play much longer the part of a servant without liverya servant of two unknown musicians； and he told me； with tears in his eyes； that not a respectable man in the house would speak to him； that the pretty maids would not even listen to his soft sighs and tender words。〃
〃Dress makes the man；〃 said the king； laughing； 〃if Deesen wore his cabinet…hussar livery these proud beauties who now despise； would smile insidiously。 How strangely the world is constituted！ But let us enjoy our freedom while we may。 We still have some collections of paintings to examinehere are some splendid pictures of Rembrandt and Rubens to be sold。 Then； last of all； I have an important piece of business to transact with the great banker； Witte； on whom I have a draft。 You know that Madame Blaken is expensive； and the picture… dealers will not trust our honest faces； we must show them hard cash。〃
〃Does yourShall I not go to the bankers and draw the money？〃 said Balby。 〃Oh no； I find it pleasant to serve myself； to be my own master and servant at the same time。 Allow me this rare pleasure for a few hours longer； Balby。〃 The king took his friend's arm； and recommenced his search for paintings and treasures to adorn his gallery at Sans…Souci。 Everywhere he was received kindly and respectfully； for all recognized them as purchasers； and not idle sight…seers。 The dealers appreciated the difference between idle enthusiasm and well…filled purses。
The king understood this well； and on leaving the house of the last rich merchant he breathed more freely； and said：
〃I am glad that is over。 The rudeness of the postmaster at Grave pleased me better than the civilities of these people。 Come； Balby； we have bought pictures enough； now we will only admire them； enjoy without appropriating them。 The rich banker； Abramson； is said to have a beautiful collection； we will examine them； and then have our draft cashed。〃
The banker's splendid house was soon found； and the brothers entered the house boldly； and demanded of the richly…dressed； liveried servant to be conducted to the gallery。
〃This is not the regular day；〃 said the servant； with a contemptuous shrug of the shoulders； as he measured the two strangers。
〃Not the day！ What day？〃 asked the king； sharply。
〃Not the day of general exhibition。 You must wait until next Tuesday。〃
〃Impossible； we leave to…morrow。 Go to your master and tell him two strangers wish to see his gallery； and beg it may be opened for them。〃
There was something so haughty and irresistible in the stranger's manner； that the servant not daring to refuse； and still astonished at his own compliance； went to inform his master of the request。 He returned in a few moments； and announced that his master would come himself to receive them。
The door opened immediately； and Mr。 Abramson stepped into the hall； his face； bright and friendly； darkened when his black eyes fell upon the two strangers standing in the hall。
〃You desired to speak to me；〃 he said； in the arrogant tone that the rich Jews are accustomed to use when speaking to unknown and poor people。 〃What is your wish； sirs？〃
The king's brow darkened； and he looked angrily at the supercilious man of fortune； who was standing opposite him； with his head proudly thrown back； and his hands in his pockets。 But Frederick's countenance soon cleared； and he said； with perfect composure：
〃We wish you to show us your picture…gallery； sir。〃
The tone in which he spoke was less