us tread of the sentinel, sometimes the sound of a
trumpet, the neighing of a horse, or the order of some officer. The
king paid no attention to all this. His ear was so accustomed to these
noises, that it seemed like perfect silence to him. He was so buried
in his work, that even the unwonted tumult which now arose was
unperceived by him; nor did he notice that a carriage drove into the
palace-yard, its post-horn sounding loud and merrily. The generals
and courtiers, who were in the antechamber, noticed it all the
more, because any thing was welcome to them which broke in upon the
prevailing quiet; for so accustomed were they to the varied business
of war, that any thing which departed from it was insupportably
tedious. They drew to the window and looked with pleasure on the
dusty, dirty travelling carriage, which, with its four panting
post-horses, had drawn up at the entrance to the palace, and out of
which descended a tall, manly figure, who went in at the palace door.

The gentlemen in the antechamber amused themselves guessing who the
stranger who had just arrived could be; and they had all arrived at
the unanimous conclusion that it must be the Marquis d'Argens, as the
door opened, and the stranger entered. He asked for the adjutant on
duty, and, as the latter was pointed out to him, he stepped toward him
with an air of quiet dignity.

"I pray you announce me immediately to his majesty. Have the kindness
to say to him, that I have not come hither on my private affairs,
but as a delegate from the city of Berlin, with full powers from the
Council and citizens, to request the honor of an audience with the
king, and that I am obliged to return as speedily as possible to the
capital."

"Your name, sir?"

"I am the merchant, John Gotzkowsky."

The serious and proud features of the aristocratic adjutant
immediately relaxed, and assumed a more polite and obliging
expression.

"Ah! Gotzkowsky, the rich and magnanimous merchant of Berlin--the
special _protege_ of the king. I will announce you immediately to his
majesty." And the adjutant hurried through the halls and entered the
boudoir of the king.

In the mean while, the generals drew near Gotzkowsky, who related
to them all about the siege of Berlin, and the cruel and relentless
conduct of the enemy; pressing him with questions, whether on his
journey thither he had encountered or come into the vicinity of any
portion of the enemy.

"You will find the king v