ert-saloon, and your highness
knows that he has strictly forbidden any one to disturb him there."

"We shall, then, have to give up our plan and remain here," said the
prince.

Kaphengst glanced angrily and threateningly at his friend.

"And why should your highness do this?" asked Pollnitz, astonished. "All
your preparations are made, all your commands fulfilled. I have procured
your costumes; no one will recognize you, and if they should, would not
dare to betray you to the king. Only two persons know that you are
to visit the ball, the Prince of Prussia, and a lovely lady, whose
beautiful eyes were misty with tears when I delivered her your message.
'Tell the prince,' she murmured, in a tender voice, 'I will await him
there, even if I knew the king would crush me with his anger.'"

The prince blushed with joy. "And you say it is impossible for me to see
the king?"

"Impossible, my prince."

"Well, we will have to renounce it," said the prince, sighing.

"Renounce seeing the king, yes! for he will not leave his rooms in
Sans-Souci today."

"Then we would be entirely safe; he would not notice our departure,"
said Kaphengst, quickly.

"Entirely safe," said Pollnitz.

"That is, if Baron Pollnitz does not himself inform the king," said
Baron Kalkreuth, whose quick, clear glance rested upon the smiling face
of the courtier, and appeared to read his inmost thoughts.

Baron Pollnitz cast a suspicious and angry glance at Kalkreuth. "I
did not know that borrowing money from you gave you the right to speak
rudely to me!"

"Silence! gentlemen," cried the prince, who, until now, had stood
quietly struggling with his own wishes. "Take your cloaks and let us
walk. Did you not say that horses were awaiting us at the door, Baron
Kalkreuth?"

"I said so, your highness."

"And you Pollnitz? Did you not say that three costumes awaited us in
Berlin?"

"Yes, your highness."

"Well, then," said the prince, smiling, "we must not allow the horses
and costumes to await us any longer. Come, gentlemen, we will ride to
Berlin."

"Really it was hard to get him off," murmured Pollnitz, as he regained
the street, and saw the three young men fading in the distance. "The
good prince had quite a dutiful emotion; if the king only knew it, he
would forgive him all, and renounce the idea of his marriage. But that
would not suit me--my debts would not be paid! I must not tell the king
of his brother's inward struggle."

"Well!" s