go to the
pavilion at the farthest end of the garden; there I will meet you. Now
hasten, friend, we have no time to lose."

According to the king's orders, Colonel Balby dressed and went to the
pavilion. He did not find the king, but two strange men there. One of
them had on a brown coat, the color of his own, ornamented with large
buttons of mother-of-pearl; black pantaloons, and shoes with large
buckles, set with dull white stones; the lace on his sleeves and vest
was very coarse. He wore a three-cornered hat, without ornament; from
under the hat fell long, brown, unpowdered hair.

Behind this stranger there stood another, in plain, simple clothes;
under one arm he carried a small bag, and under the other a case that
contained either a yard-stick or a flute. He returned the colonel's
salutation with a grimace and a profound bow. A short pause ensued, then
the supposed strangers laughed heartily and exclaimed:

"Do you not know us, Balby?"

Their voices started the colonel, and he stepped back.

"Sire, it is yourself."

"Yes, it is I, Frederick--not the king. Yes, I am Frederick, and this
capital servant is my good Deesen, who has sworn solemnly not to betray
our incognito, and to give no one reason to suspect his high dignity
as royal cabinet-hussar. For love of us he will, for a few days, be the
servant of two simple, untitled musicians, who are travelling around the
world, seeking their fortunes, but who, unfortunately, have no letters
of recommendation."

"But who will recommend themselves by their talents and
accomplishments."

The king laughed aloud. "Balby, you forget that you are a poor musician,
chatting with your comrade. Truly your courtly bow suits your dress as
little as a lace veil would a beggar's attire; you must lay your fine
manners aside for a short time, for, with them, you would appear to
the village beauties we may meet like a monkey, and they would laugh at
instead of kissing you."

"So we are to meet country beauties," said Colonel Balby, no longer able
to suppress his curiosity. "Tell me, sire, where are we going, and what
are we going to do? I shall die of curiosity."

"Make an effort to die," said the king, gayly; "you will find it is not
so easy to do as you imagine. But I will torture you no longer. You ask
what we are going to do. Well, we are going to amuse ourselves and seek
adventures. You ask where we are going. Ask that question of the sparrow
that sits on the house-top--