he true spirit of Christian and brotherly love,
grudged each other a piece of bread. Quiet, Biche, and don't be vexed
that I compared you to human beings. I did not mean you were quite as
bad as that."

And gently stroking and caressing the offended Biche, he rose and
seated himself in his velvet-covered _fauteuil_. His bright eye turned
toward Gotzkowsky, and rested on the package the latter had in his
hand. "What have you there?"

"A plate and a cup," said Gotzkowsky, seriously--"the first two pieces
from my porcelain factory in Berlin."

The king now rose from his seat and strode hastily toward Gotzkowsky.
"Give them here. I want to see what sort of potters'-ware you are
going to impose upon me for porcelain." With impatient hands he tore
off the paper coverings, and so eagerly was he engaged with them, that
he did not perceive that Biche and Apollo were already fighting for a
scrap of paper which he had thrown directly on Biche's nose, and which
she consequently mistook for a delicate morsel, a prize worth a fight
with Apollo. "Forsooth, it is porcelain!" cried the king, as he drew
out the gold-rimmed plate and the beautifully painted cup from their
wrappings, and looked at them attentively; and as his eye rested
on the painting of the cup, his features assumed a soft and
sad expression. "My house in Rheinsberg," muttered he softly to
himself--"a greeting from my happy days."

"In the castle Rheinsberg, I first enjoyed the favor of being
presented to your majesty," said Gotzkowsky. "Castle Rheinsberg is,
therefore, to me a happy recollection, and it was for that reason
selected to adorn the proof pieces of my porcelain factory."

The king fastened a penetrating look upon him. "You are playing me
a trick--I don't like tricks, you must know. Therefore tell me the
truth. Where did you get this porcelain? It is not from Meissen. The
mark is wanting, and it is whiter and stronger. Where did you get it?"

"From Berlin, sire. I promised you, when you were in Meissen, that in
future you should procure your porcelain from your own dominions, and
I dare not forfeit my word."

"And so you imitated the Almighty, and created a porcelain factory
with the breath of your mouth?"

"Not with the breath of my mouth, but the breath of my money."

"Tell me about it, and all the particulars," said the king, still
holding the cup in his hand, and looking at it attentively.

And Gotzkowsky related how, on his return from Meisse