felt joy stood in Gotzkowsky's eyes as he
took the oaken crown from his hands, and glowing words of gratitude
poured from his lips.

Not far off, in a niche of a window of the hall, stood Messrs. Krause
and Kretschmer, with sullen looks, witnessing the homage paid to
Gotzkowsky, their souls filled with envy and rage. They, too, had come
to thank him, but with unwilling hearts, because they could not be
well absent from the festivities which the whole town offered him. But
they were vexed to see this man, whom they hated from the bottom of
their hearts, because of their obligations to him, so universally
honored and beloved. It annoyed them to see the pleasant and affable
smile with which the otherwise proud burgomaster conversed with
him; to see with what cordial friendship the senators and councilmen
surrounded him.

"I came hither," said Mr. Krause, softly, "to thank Gotzkowsky for
saving us, but I must confess it worries me to see him so glorified."

Mr. Kretschmer shrugged his shoulders contemptuously. "Let them praise
him," said he; "the _Vossian Gazette_ will not notice it, and I will
not write the smallest article on this occasion. As for the service
he rendered us--well, certainly, it would have been unpleasant to
have been flogged, but then we would have been martyrs to our liberal
opinions; the whole world would have admired and pitied us, and the
king would not have refused us a pension."

"Certainly," whispered Mr. Krause, "he would have granted us a
pension, and the whipping would have made us famous. It has never been
forgotten of the English poet, Payne, that King Charles the First had
his ears cut off, because he wrote against him. He is not celebrated
for his writings, but for his chopped ears. We, too, might have
become famous if this Gotzkowsky had not, in the most uncalled-for
manner, interfered, and--but look!" cried he, interrupting himself,
"the interview with the Council is finished, and it is now our turn to
thank him."

The two editors hastened toward him in order, in well-arranged speech,
and with assurances of eternal gratitude, to offer their thanks.

* * * * *

CHAPTER XVIII.

A ROYAL LETTER.

Mr. Krause had not yet finished the declamation of the poem which his
inspiration had produced in honor of Gotzkowsky, when a loud noise was
heard at the door of the hall, and Gotzkowsky's body-servant rushed
in. A messenger of the Council was without