mally. "I would
marry her if she were ugly, old, and unamiable. But is it allowed me to
add one condition?"

"Speak, my brother, I am listening."

The prince did not answer immediately; he breathed quickly and heavily,
and a glowing red suffused his pale, trembling face.

"Speak, my brother. Name your conditions," said the king.

"Well, then, so be it. My first condition is that I may be allowed to
have a brilliant wedding. I wish to invite not only the entire court,
but a goodly number of Berliners; I desire all Berlin to take part in
my happiness, and to convince every one, by my gay demeanor and my
entertainment, that I joyfully accept my bride, the princess."

The king's eyes rested sorrowfully upon his brother's countenance. He
fully understood the emotions of his heart, and knew that his brother
wished to wound and humiliate his faithless sweetheart by his marriage;
that Henry only submitted to his wishes because his proud heart
rebelled at the thought of being pitied as a rejected lover. But he was
considerate, and would not let it appear that he understood him.

"I agree to this first proposition," said the king, after a pause,
"and I hope you will allow me to be present at this beautiful fete,
and convince Berlin that we are in hearty unison. Have you no other
conditions?"

"Yes, one more."

"What is it?"

"That my marriage shall take place, at the latest, in a month."

"You will thus fulfil my particular and personal wish," said the king,
smiling. "I am anxious to have this marriage over, for, after the
gayeties, I wish to leave Berlin. All the arrangements and contracts
are completed, and I think now there is no obstacle in the way of the
marriage. Have you another wish, my brother?"

"No, sire."

"Then allow me to beg you to grant me a favor. I wish to leave a kind
remembrance of this eventful hour in your heart, and I therefore
give you a small memento of the same. Will you accept my castle of
Rheinsberg, with all its surroundings, as a present from me? Will you
grant me this pleasure, my brother?"

The king offered his hand, with a loving smile, to Henry, and received
with apparent pleasure his ardent thanks.

"I chose Rheinsberg," he said, kindly, "not because it is my favorite
palace, and I have passed many pleasant and happy days there, but
because none of my other palaces are so appropriate for a prince who is
discontented with his king. I have made that experience myself, and I
give