brow.

"Now then, quickly," ordered the king, and he dictated--"'That old bear,
the king, counts every hour against me that I spend so charmingly with
you. That my absence may be shorter in the future, and less observed
by the old scold, I wish you to rent a room near here in the suburbs
of Brandenburg, where we can meet more conveniently than in the city. I
remain yours until death.'"

"'DEESEN.'"

"Have you finished?" asked the king.

"Yes, sire, I have finished," groaned Deesen.

"Then fold the letter and seal it, and write the address 'To the
unmarried Maria Siegert, Yunker Street, Potsdam.'"

"Mercy, sire, mercy!" cried Deseen, springing up and throwing himself
at the feet of the king. "I see that your majesty knows all--that I have
been betrayed."

"You have betrayed yourself, for to-day is the tenth time that I have
called for you when you were absent. Now send your letter off, and see
that your Siegert gets a room here. If, however, you are again absent
when I call, I will send your beautiful Maria to Spandau, and dismiss
you. Go, now, and dispatch your letter."

Deesen hurried off, and the king looked smilingly after him for a
moment, and was on the point of returning to his reading, when his
attention was attracted by the approach of a carriage.

"Ah," he murmured anxiously, "I fear that I shall be disturbed again
by some cousin, who has come to rob me of my time by hypocritical
professions of love."

He looked anxiously toward the door. It was soon opened, and a servant
announced Prince Henry.

The king's countenance cleared, and he advanced to meet his brother with
a bright smile. But his greeting was not returned, and the prince did
not appear to see the extended hand of the king. A heavy cloud lay upon
his brow--his cheeks were colorless and his lips compressed, as if he
wished to suppress the angry and indignant words which his flashing eyes
expressed.

"Ah, my brother," said the king, sadly, "it seems that you have come to
announce a misfortune."

"No," said the prince, "I only came, your majesty, to recall a
conversation which I held with you ten years ago in this same room, on
this very spot."

"Ten years ago?" said the king. "That was at the time of your marriage,
Henry."

"Yes, the conversation I refer to concerned my marriage, sire. You had
pursued me so long with that subject, that I had at length concluded
to submit to the yoke which was to free me from those unworthy and
hu