o true children of Haman. Some weeks ago, after the
unfortunate fight of Kunnersdorf, when I sent an express courier to
Berlin and ordered the Town Council to advise the rich and
well-to-do to retire from the city with their portable property, my
recommendation was not followed: you yourself excited the Council
to disobedience. In your self-willed obstinacy you had the impudent
assurance to make your way through a country infested by the enemy;
and if my colonel, Von Prittwitz, had not found you in those woods,
and brought you to me in the village, your obstinate head would have
adorned the lance of some Cossack or other. And what did you come for
but to assure me that the well-to-do citizens of Berlin would prefer
staying at home, and did not wish to run away? Yes, truly you are a
queer diplomatist, and rush headlong into danger and trouble only to
assure your king that his citizens will not obey him!"

The king had spoken with apparent displeasure, but around his lips
there played a slight smile, and his large blue eyes were directed
toward Gotzkowsky with an expression of indescribable kindness.

"In this case they do not wish to obey your majesty, because they wish
to remain worthy of the name of your majesty's citizens and subjects."

The king paced up and down several times, with folded arms, and then
stopped before Gotzkowsky, looking steadily in his eyes. "Now tell me,
how did you manage to make the Berliners so obstinate and so lavish of
their means?"

Gotzkowsky smiled. "Please your majesty, the Berliners prize their
honor above their life."

The king shook his head impatiently. "You may tell that to some one
else. Tell _me_, how did you bring my Berliners up to that? But the
truth--mind, you tell me the truth."

"Well, then, your majesty shall know the truth," said Gotzkowsky,
after a pause.

"Yes, yes, the truth," cried the king, nodding his head violently. "I
wish to know how you inspired the citizens of Berlin with such bold
assurance."

"The truth is, sire, that this was only the courage of cowardice, and
that the prudent magistracy and merchants were perfectly delighted
with your majesty's orders not to pay these bonds, and that I gave
myself an immense amount of trouble in vain to remind them of their
pledged word and their compromised honor."

"Oh! I know it," said the king. "My good Berliners love money as well
as any other of the good-for-nothing children of men. Proceed!"

"Well, when I