o use his
tongue well, and goes about tattling with it."

"Sire," said Gotzkowsky, smiling, "we only follow the example of our
hero-king. We all are anxious to fight, and those who have no swords
must fight with the tongue. I have latterly been compelled to fight a
great deal with it, and the Leipsic merchants may have heard something
about that. They knew that I had some exercise with my tongue, and
gained a little victory with it over the Russians in Berlin."

"How much do you think the city of Leipsic can pay?" asked the king
after a pause.

"If your majesty will remit them a few hundred thousand dollars, and
allow the merchants time, they are willing to bind themselves in joint
bonds."

"_Parbleu_! are they willing to do that?" asked the king, derisively.
"The bonds of the Leipsic merchants would be no security to me."
And turning quickly on Gotzkowsky, he asked him, "Are you willing to
guarantee the payment?"

"If your majesty orders it, the bonds shall be drawn out with my
guaranty."

"I look to you, then, for their payment."

"At your orders, sire."

"Well, then, for your sake I will remit the Leipsigers three hundred
thousand dollars; but for the rest of the million you are answerable."

"I will be answerable for it."

"I will let these gentlemen of Leipsic know that it is to your
intercession and your guaranty that they are indebted for the
mitigation of their contributions; and then you can, if it gives you
pleasure, bargain with the rich town for some reward for your services
rendered."

"That would give me no pleasure, sire!" cried Gotzkowsky, with noble
indignation. "Your majesty must not think so meanly of me as to
suppose that I would make a profit out of the misfortunes of others,
and that I have interceded for the poor Leipsigers in order to make a
trade out of them!"

"I think that you are a hard-headed, obstinate fellow, who must be
allowed to have his own way," said the king, with an affable smile.
"But I must bear you witness that, in your own way, you have rendered
me many a good service. For that reason, you will always find me well
affected toward you, and in the Sans-Souci gallery you have created a
beautiful memorial to yourself."

"If your majesty would come there now, you would find the Correggio
about which you wrote to the Marquis d'Argens."

The king's eyes sparkled. "The Correggio is mine!" said he, walking up
and down slowly, with his hands behind his back. "Ah," adde