hnisch moved forward, and the prince, frightened, remained
standing with outstretched hand. He menaced the king with a glance of
his bright blue eyes. Frederick caught the look, smiled, and turned to
the tutor.

"I believe it is three years since you commenced teaching the little
prince?" said the king.

"At your service, your majesty, since 1775."

"A tolerably long time," said the king--"long enough to make a savant
of a child of Nature. You have been faithful, and I am satisfied. The
copybooks which you sent me according to my orders are satisfactory. I
wished to acquaint you myself of my satisfaction, therefore I sent for
you."

"Your majesty is very condescending," said the tutor, and his sharp,
angular face brightened a little. "I am very happy in the gracious
satisfaction of your royal highness. I wished also to make known to you
personally my wishes in regard to the petition for the little prince's
pocket-money; he should learn the use of money."

"Very well," said the king, nodding to the prince, who stood behind the
tutor, holding up triumphantly the shuttle cock.

Yet, the most difficult feat remained to be accomplished. The battledoor
was in the very depths of the pocket; only the point of the handle was
visible.

"Your majesty," cried Herr Behnisch, who had taken the approving
exclamation of "very well" to himself--"your majesty, I am very happy
that you have the grace to approve of my petition for pocket-money."

"Yes, I think it well," said the king, "that the prince should learn
not to throw money out of the window. I will send you, monthly, for the
prince, two Fredericks d'or, and, before you hand it over to him, change
it into small pieces, that there may be a great pile of it." [Footnote:
The king's own words--See "Confidential Letters."]

Just at that moment the prince tried to seize the battle door. Herr
Behnisch felt the movement, and was on the point of turning around, when
Frederick stopped him, by saying, "I believe it is time to commence a
regular course of instruction for the prince. At eight years of age
the education of an heir to the throne must progress rapidly, and be
regulated by fixed principles. I will write out my instructions, that
you may always have them before you."

"It will be my most earnest endeavor to follow your majesty's commands
to the letter," answered the tutor, who saw not the little prince, with
beaming face, behind him, swinging the battledoor high in the