ths shut--who are
neither drunkards nor gossips, and do not take for truth what they have
experienced in their drunken fits. I do not want such fellows as you are
at all; you are only fit food for cannon, and for that you shall serve.
Go to General Alvensleben, and present yourself to enter the guards. You
are lucky to go to the field at once; to-morrow you will set off. Say
to the general that I sent you, and that you are to enter as a common
soldier."

"But, your majesty, I do not know what I have done," cried Schultz,
whiningly. "I really am not drunk. I--"

"Silence!" thundered the king. "Do as I command you! Go to General
Alvensleben, and present yourself to enter the guards at once. Away with
you! I do not need drunken, gossiping footmen in my service. Away with
you!"

The footman slunk slowly away, his head hanging down, with difficulty
restraining the tears which stood in large drops in his eyes.

The king followed him with his glance, which softened and grew gentler
from sympathy. "I pity him, the poor fellow! but I must teach him a
lesson. I want no gossips around me. He need only wear the uniform two
weeks or so, that will bring him to reason. Then I will pardon him,
and receive him into my service again. He is a good-natured fellow, and
would not betray any one as Kretzschmar betrayed him."

The king stepped to the window to look at the gentleman who was eagerly
engaged in conversation with the castellan of Sans-Souci. At this
instant the footman entered with a sealed note for the king. "From his
royal highness Prince Henry," said he.

"Who brought it?"

"The gentleman who speaks with the castellan upon the terrace. I wait
your majesty's commands."

"Wait, then." The note ran thus: "Your majesty, my dearly-beloved
brother: The bearer, Johann Wolfgang Goethe, one of the literati, and
a poet, and at this time secretary of legation to the duchy of
Saxe-Weimar, is a great favorite of the duke's, our nephew. I met him
returning from the parade in company with the duke, who expressed to me
the strong desire his secretary had to visit the celebrated house of
the great philosopher of Sans-Souci, and see the room once occupied by
Voltaire. I could not well refuse, and therefore address these few lines
to your majesty before returning to Berlin with the duke, who will dine
with me, accompanied by his secretary. I am your majesty's most humble
servant and brother, HENRY."

"Tell the castellan that I grant h