edt, and a quarter of an hour since he received four thousand
louis d'or from the princess to bribe the fireman. If the intrigue
succeeds, the princess has promised him a thousand louis d'or for
himself."

"Go on," said the king, as Pollnitz ceased speaking.

"Go on!" said Pollnitz, with a stupefied air. "I have nothing more to
say; it seems to me the history is sufficiently important."

"And it seems to me a silly fairy tale," said Frederick, turning angrily
upon the grand-master. "If you think to squeeze gold out of me by such
ridiculous and senseless narratives, you are greatly mistaken. Not one
farthing will I pay for these lies. Do you think that Austria lies on
the borders of Tartary? There, a barber is minister; and you, forsooth,
will make a fireman the confidential friend of the empress! Why,
Scheherezade would not have dared to relate such an absurd fairy tale to
her sleepy sultan, as you, sir, now seek to impose upon me!"

"But, sire, it is no fairy tale, but the unvarnished truth. The page
of the princess listened, and immediately repeated all that he heard to
me."

"Have you paid the page for this intelligence, which he asserts he
overheard?"

"No, sire."

"Then go quickly to Berlin and reward him by two sound boxes on the ear,
then go to bed and drink chamomile tea. It appears to me your head is
weak."

"But, sire, I have told you nothing but the pure truth; no matter how
fabulous it may appear."

Frederick gazed at him scornfully. "It is a silly tale," he cried, in
a loud commanding voice. "Do not say another word, and do not dare to
repeat to any one what you have now related. Go, I say! and forget this
nonsense."

Pollnitz crept sighing and with bowed head to the door, but, before he
opened it, he turned once more to the king.

"Sire, this is the last day of the month, this wretched October has
thirty-one days. Even if in your majesty's wisdom you decide this story
to be untrue, you should at least remember my zeal."

"I should reward you for your zeal in doing evil?" said Frederick,
shaking his head. "But truly this is the way of the world; evil is
rewarded and good actions trodden under foot. You are not worth a kick!
Go and get your reward; tell my servant to give you ten Fredericks
d'or--but on one condition."

"What condition?" said Pollnitz, joyfully.

"As soon as you arrive in Berlin, go to the castle, call the page of the
princess, and box him soundly for his villany. Go!"