ters of business, and I pray your
majesty to grant me a private audience."

Frederick looked sternly at him. "Listen, Pollnitz, you are still a
long-winded and doubtful companion, notwithstanding your seventy-six
years. Deliberate a moment; if that which you tell me is not important,
and requiring speedy attention, I will punish you severely for having
dared to interrupt me in my cabinet council; I will withhold your salary
for the next month."

"Your majesty, the business is weighty, and requires immediate
attention; I stake my salary upon it."

"Come, then, into my cabinet, but be brief," said Frederick, stepping
into the adjoining room. "Now speak," said he, as he closed the door.

"Sire, first, I must ask your pardon for daring to allude to a subject
which is so old that its teeth are shaky and its countenance wrinkled."

"You wish, then, to speak of yourself?" said Frederick.

"No, sire; I will speak of a subject which bloomed before the war, and
since then has withered and faded in a subterranean prison; but it now
threatens to put forth new buds, to unfold new leaves, and I fear your
majesty will find that undesirable."

"Speak, then, clearly, and without circumlocution. I am convinced it
is only some gossiping or slander you wish to retail. You come as a
salaried family spy who has snapped up some greasy morsels of scandal.
Your eyes are glowing with malicious pleasure, as they always do when
you are about to commit some base trick. Now, then, out with it! Of whom
will you speak?"

"Of the Princess Amelia and Trenck," whispered Pollnitz.

The king gazed at him fiercely for a moment, then turned and walked
silently backward and forward.

"Well, what is your narrative?" said Frederick, at last, turning his
back upon Pollnitz, and stepping to the window as if to look out.

"Sire, if your majesty does not interfere, the Princess Amelia will
send a negotiator to Vienna, who undertakes to induce the Empress Maria
Theresa to apply to you for the release of Trenck. This negotiator is
richly provided with gold and instructions; and the Austrian ambassador
has pointed out to the princess a sure way to reach the ear of the
empress, and to obtain an intercessor with her. She will appeal to
the fireman of the empress, and this influential man will undertake to
entreat Maria Theresa to ask for Trenck's release. This will take place
immediately; an hour since the messenger received his instructions from
General Ri