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〃Do you mean poor Fritz Wendel？〃 said the king； smiling。
〃Well； on the day of your marriage I will send him as a soldier to Poland： there he may relate his love…adventures； but no one will understand him。 Are you content？〃
〃I thank you； sire；〃 said Louise； faintly。
〃Ah； I see our conversation has agitated you a little！〃 said the king。 〃Fortunately； we are now at an end。 In the next eight days； remember； you will be engaged！〃
〃Yes； sire。〃
〃The day of your marriage； I will make your captain a major。 You promise to tell my brother of your engagement； and that it is in accordance with the warmest wishes of your heart？〃
〃Yes； sire； and you will banish the gardener forever？〃
〃I will； but waitone thing more。 Where will you tell my brother of your engagement； and before what witnesses？〃
〃At the place and before the witnesses your majesty may select；〃 said Madame von Kleist。
The king thought a moment。 〃You will do it in my presence；〃 said he； 〃I will let you know the time and place through Pollnitz。 We have arranged our little affairs； madame； and we will descend to the saloon where； I think； your epouseur is sighing for your presence。〃
〃Let him sigh； sire！ With your permission； I should like to retire。〃
〃Go； madame； where you wish。 Pollnitz will conduct you to your carriage。〃
He offered her his hand； and； with a friendly bow； led her to the door。
〃Farewell； madame！ I believe we part friends？〃
〃Sire；〃 she answered； smiling faintly； 〃I can only say as the soldiers do； 'I thank you for your gracious punishment！'〃
She bowed and left the room hastily； that the king might not see her tears。
CHAPTER V。
A SECRET CAPTAIN。
The king looked long after her in silence； at first with an expression of deep pity； but this soon gave place to a gay； mocking smile。
〃She is not a woman to take sorrow earnestly。 When mourning no longer becomes her； she will lay it aside for the rosy robes of joy。 She is a coquette； nothing more。 It is useless to pity her。〃
He now stepped upon the balcony that overlooked the saloon； and glanced furtively from behind the curtains upon the gay assembly below。
〃Poor； foolish mankind！ how wise you might be； if you were not so very childishif you did not seek joy and happiness precisely where it is not to be found！ But how is this？〃 said the king； interrupting himself； 〃those two giant forms at the side of the little Armenians are certainly Barons Kalkreuth and Kaphengst； and that is my brother with them。 Poor Henry！ you have made a bad use of your freedom； and must； therefore； soon lose it。 Ah！ see how searchingly he turns his head； seeking his beautiful odalisque！ In vain； my brother； in vain！ For to…day； at least； we have made her a repentant Magdalen； to… morrow she will be again a life…enjoying Aspasia。 Ah； the prince separates himself from his followers。 I have a few words to whisper in the ear of the gay Kaphengst。〃
The king stepped back into the room； and after resuming his mask； he descended into the saloon； accompanied by his grand chamberlain。
Mirth and gayety reigned； the room was crowded with masks。 here stood a group in gay conversation； there was dancing at the other end of the saloon。 Some were listening to the organ…player； as he sang； in comical German and French verses； little incidents and adventures that had occurred during the present year at court； bringing forth laughter； confused silence； and blushes。 Some were amusing themselves with the lively； witty chat of the son of the Prince of Prussia； the little ten…year…old； Prince Frederick William。 He was dressed as the God of Love； with bow and quiver； dancing around； and； with an early…ripened instinct； directing his arrow at the most beautiful and fascinating ladies in the room。
Prince Henry paid no attention to all this； his wandering glance sought only the beautiful Louise； and a deep sigh escaped him at not having found her。 Hastily he stepped through the rows of dancers which separated the two cavaliers from him。
〃It appears；〃 murmured Baron Kalkreuth to his friend； 〃it appears to me that the prince would like to get rid of us。 He wishes to be entirely unobserved。 I think we can profit by this； and therefore I shall take leave of you for a while； and seek my own adventures。〃
〃I advise you；〃 murmured Baron Kaphengst； laughingly； 〃to appoint no rendezvous for to…morrow。〃
〃And why not； friend？〃
〃Because you will not be able to appear； for you will doubtless be in arrest。〃
〃That is true； and I thank you for your prudent advice； and shall arrange all my rendezvous for the day after to…morrow。 Farewell。〃
Baron Kaphengst turned laughingly to another part of the saloon。 Suddenly he felt a hand placed on his shoulder； and a low voice murmured his name。
Terrified； he turned。 〃I am not the one you seek； mask；〃 he said； but as he met those two large； burning eyes； he shuddered； and even his bold； daring heart stood still a moment from terror。 Only the king had such eyes； only he had such a commanding glance。
〃You say you are not the one I seek；〃 said the mask。 〃Well； yes； you speak wisely。 I sought in you a brave and obedient officer； and it appears that you are not that。 You are not； then； Lieutenant von Kaphengst？〃
Kaphengst thought a moment。 He was convinced it was the king that spoke with him； for Frederick had not attempted to disguise his voice。 Kaphengst knew he was discovered。 There remained nothing for him but to try and reconcile the king by a jest。
He bowed close to the king； and whispered： 〃Listen； maskas you have recognized me； I will acknowledge the truth。 Yes； I am Lieutenant von Kaphengst； and am incognito。 You understand meI came to this ball incognito。 He is a scoundrel who repeats it！〃 and； without awaiting an answer； he hastened away to seek the prince and Baron Kalkreuth； acquaint them with the king's presence； and fly with them from his anger。
But Prince Henry； whose fruitless search for his sweetheart had made him angry and defiant； declared he would remain at the ball until it was over； and that it should be optional with the king to insult his brother openly； and to punish and humble a prince of his house before the world。
〃I； unfortunately； do not belong to the princes of the royal house； and I therefore fear that the king might regard me as the cat who had to pull the hot chestnuts from the ashes； and I might suffer for all three。 I therefore pray your highness to allow me to withdraw。〃
〃You may go； and if you meet Kalkreuth； ask him to accompany you。 You officers must not carry your insubordination any further。 I； as prince； and Hohenzollern； dare the worst； but； be assured； I shall pay for my presumption。 Farewell； and hasten！ Do not forget Kalkreuth。〃
Kaphengst sought in vain。 Kalkreuth was nowhere to be found； and he had to wend his way alone to Potsdam。
〃I shall take care not to await the order of the king for my arrest；〃 said Baron Kaphengst to himself； as he rode down the road to Potsdam。 〃I shall be in arrest when his order arrives。 Perhaps that will soften his anger。〃
Accordingly； when Kaphengst arrived at the court guard； in Potsdam； he assumed the character of a drunken； quarrelsome officer； and played