emand a light, and immediately appear with our passes, do you not
believe that this dragon of a postmaster would immediately think that we
had written them ourselves, and put a forged seal under them?"

"How, then, are we to get a light?" said Balby, confused.

The king thought a moment, then laughed gayly.

"I have found a way," he said; "go down into the dining-room, where I
noticed an eternal lamp burning, not to do honor to the Mother of God,
but to smokers; light your cigar and bring it here. I will light the
sealing-wax by it, and we will have the advantage of drowning the smell
of the wax with the smoke."

Balby flew away, and soon returned with the burning cigar; the king lit
the sealing-wax, and put the seal under the passport.

"This will proclaim us free from all crime. Now, brother Henry, call the
worthy postmaster."

When Niclas received the passport from the king's hand his countenance
cleared, and he made the two gentlemen a graceful bow, and begged them
to excuse the severity that his duty made necessary.

"We have now entirely convinced you that we are honest people," said the
king, smiling, "and you will forgive us that we have so little baggage."

"Well, I understand," said Mr. Niclas, confusedly, "musicians are seldom
rich, but live from hand to mouth, and must thank God if their clothes
are good and clean. Yours are entirely new, and you need no baggage."

The king laughed merrily. "Can we now go?" he asked.

"Yes; but how, sir? You doubtlessly heard that the postilion left as
soon as you entered the house."

"Consequently we are without a conveyance; we have paid for our places
for nothing, and must remain in this miserable place," said the king,
impatiently.

Niclas reddened with anger. "Sir, what right have you to call the town
of Grave a miserable place? Believe me, it would be very difficult for
you to become a citizen of this miserable place, for you must prove
that you have means enough to live in a decent manner, and it appears to
me--"

"That we do not possess them," said the king; "vraiment, you are right,
our means are very insufficient, and as the inhabitants of Grave will
not grant us the rights of citizens, it is better for us to leave
immediately. Have, therefore, the goodness to furnish us with the means
of doing so."

"There are two ways, an expensive and a cheap one," said Niclas,
proudly: "extra post, or the drag-boat. The first is for respectable
people, the seco