was at the same time a spendthrift and a miser.

Four times in every year he had three or four days of rare and rich
enjoyment; he lived en grand seigneur, and prepared for himself every
earthly luxury; these were the first three or four days of every quarter
in which he received his salary. With a lavish hand he scattered all
the gold which he could keep back from his greedy creditors, and felt
himself young, rich, and happy. After these fleeting days of proud
glory came months of sad economy; he was obliged to play the role of a
parasitical plant, attach himself to some firm, well-rooted stem, and
absorb its strength and muscle. In these days of restraint he watched
like a pirate all those who were in the condition to keep a good table,
and so soon as he learned that a dinner was on hand, he knew how to
conquer a place. At these times he was also a passionate devotee of
the card-table, and it was the greatest proof of his versatility and
dexterity that he always succeeded in making up his party, though every
man knew it cost gold to play cards with Pollnitz. The grand-master had
the exalted principles of Louis XV. of France, who was also devoted to
cards. Every evening the great Louis set apart a thousand louis d'or to
win or lose. If the king won, the gold went into his private pocket; if
he lost, the state treasury suffered.

Following this royal example, Pollnitz placed the gold he won in his
pocket; if he lost, he borrowed the money to pay--he considered this
borrowed sum as also the clear profit of his game; he was assured to
win, and in this way he obtained his pocket money.

To-day, however, he would not be merry at a strange table; he himself
would do the honors, and he had conducted the arrangements of the table
with a scholarship and knowledge of details which would have obtained
the admiration of the Duke de Richelieu.

On this occasion it was not necessary to restrain his luxurious desires
and tastes. Honor demanded that the court should show itself in full
pomp and splendor, and prove to the world that this long, wearisome war
had not exhausted the royal treasury, nor the royal table service of
silver; in short, that it was an easy thing to carry on the war, without
resorting to the private treasures of the royal house.

It was, therefore, necessary to bring out for this great occasion the
golden service which had been the king's inheritance from his mother.
Frederick's portion had been lately increas