ed that you should defend a man who carries
his impudence so far as to canvass and scandalize the conduct of his
own king in such a disrespectful and audacious manner."

"The king is great enough to be able to bear this calumny of little
minds. Whosoever is truly great, is not afraid of free speaking nor of
calumny. Have you never heard the story of how the king was riding by,
where the people were collected at the corner of a street, stretching
out their necks to read a pasquinade which had been hung on the wall,
and was directed against the king himself? The king reigned in his
horse, and read the hand-bill. The people stood in silent terror, for
the paper contained a sharp abuse of the king, and a libel on him in
verse. What does your excellency think the king did when he had read
this most treasonable placard?"

"He had the mob cut it down, as it deserved to be, and the author
strung up on the gallows," cried Tottleben.

"Not at all, sir," replied Gotzkowsky. "He said, 'Let the paper be
hung lower; the people can't see to read it up so high.' He then
saluted the crowd, and rode off, laughing."

"Did the _great Fritz_ do that?" said Tottleben, unconsciously using
the epithet which the Prussian people had applied to their king.

"He did it _because_ he is great," replied Gotzkowsky.

"Strange, hard to believe," muttered the general, folding his arms,
and striding up and down. After a pause, Gotzkowsky inquired, "Would
you not like to emulate the great king, general?"

Count Tottleben awoke from his reverie. Approaching Gotzkowsky, he
laid his hand upon his shoulder; his expression was indescribably mild
and gentle, and a melancholy smile played around his lips. "Hark'ee, I
believe it would do me good if we could be always together. Come with
me. Settle in Russia. The empress has heard of you, and I know that
she would be rejoiced if you came to Petersburg. Do it. You can make
a large fortune there. The empress's favor will elevate you, and she
will not let you want for orders or a title."

Gotzkowsky could hardly suppress a smile of contempt. "Orders for me!
A title! What would I do with them? Sir, I am more powerful than all
your counts, for the greatness of the nobility lies in the past, in
mouldering ancestors; but the greatness of the manufacturer lies in
the future, and the future belongs to industry. I founded the first
large factories here in Berlin, and the manufacturers who come after
me can call me