bewitching enchantress!"

Involuntarily his eye rested upon the beautiful picture of Barbarina.
But he would have no pity with himself, as he dared not show mercy to
his brother. Seizing the silver bell, he rang it hastily.

"Take that picture from the wall, and carry it immediately to the
inspector, and tell him to hang it in the picture-gallery," said
Frederick.

He looked on quietly as the servant took the picture down and carried
it from the room, then sighed and gazed long at the plane where it had
hung.

"Empty and cold! The last token of my youth is gone! I am now the king,
and, with God's blessing, will be the father of my people."

CHAPTER II. PRINCE HENRY.

Prince Henry sat quiet and motionless in his lonely room; dark thoughts
seemed to trouble him; his brow was clouded, his lips compressed. Had
you not known him, you would have taken him for the king, so great
was the resemblance of the two brothers; but it was only an outward
resemblance. The prince had not the spiritual expression, his eyes
had not the passionate fire, his face (beautiful as it was) wanted the
fascinating geniality, the sparkling inspiration, that at all times
lighted the king's countenance like a sunbeam.

The prince possessed a greater mind, a clearer understanding, but he
wanted soul and poetic feeling, and allowed himself at times to ridicule
his brother's poetic efforts. The king, knowing this, was inclined
to regard the shortcomings of the prince as a determined contempt and
resistance to his command; and as the prince became more reckless and
more indifferent, he became more severe and harsh. Thus the struggle
commenced that had existed for some time between the two brothers.

For the last four days the prince had been in arrest for disobeying
orders, but the hour of his release was approaching, and he awaited it
with impatience.

The bell of the nearest church had just announced the hour of six.
The door opened immediately, and an officer, in the name of the king,
pronounced his arrest at an end.

The prince answered with a low bow, and remained seated, pointing
haughtily to the door; but as the officer left him he arose and paced
hastily to and fro.

"He treats me like a school-boy," he murmured; "but I shall show him
that I have a will of my own! I will not be intimidated--I will not
submit; and if the king does not cease to annoy me, if he continues to
forget that I am not a slave, but son and brother of a