ped away so
quietly from the house. Truly, I was fool enough to be angry at first,
but I now feel that the scene was irresistibly comic. Oh! oh, Balby! do
laugh with me. Think of us, who imagine ourselves to be such splendidly
handsome men, being shown the door, and that horrid shrunken, diseased
old man being received with such consideration! He smelt like a
salve-box, we are odorous with ambrosia; but all in vain, Abramson
preferred the salve-box."

"Abramson's olfactories are not those of a courtier," said Balby, "or he
would have fainted at the odor of royalty. But truly, this Mr. Abramson
is a disgraceful person, and I beg your majesty to avenge Mr. Zoller."

"I shall do so. He deserves punishment; he has insulted me as a man; the
king will punish him." [Footnote: The king kept his word. The Jew heard
afterward that it was the king whom he had treated so disrespectfully,
and here could never obtain his forgiveness. He was not allowed to
negotiate with the Prussian government or banks, and was thus bitterly
punished for his misconduct.]

"And now we will have our check cashed by Mr. Witte. I bet he will not
dismiss us so curtly, for my draft is for ten thousand crowns, and he
will be respectful--if not to us, to our money."

The worthy and prosperous Madame Witte had just finished dusting and
cleaning her state apartment, and was giving it a last artistic survey.
She smiled contentedly, and acknowledged that there was nothing more to
be done. The mirrors and windows were of transparent brightness--no dust
was seen on the silk furniture or the costly ornaments--it was perfect.
With a sad sigh Madame Witte left the room and locked the door with
almost a feeling of regret. She must deny herself for the next few days
her favorite occupation--there was nothing more to dust or clean in the
apartment and only in this room was her field of operation--only here
did her husband allow her to play the servant. With this exception he
required of her to be the lady of the house--the noble wife of the rich
banker--and this was a role that pleased the good woman but little.
She locked the door with a sigh and drew on her shoes, which she
was accustomed always to leave in the hall before entering her state
apartment, then stepped carefully on the border of the carpet that
covered the hall to another door. At this moment violent ringing was
heard at the front door. Madame Witte moved quickly forward to follow
the bent of her woma