To believe is difficult; you, I
presume, never belonged to the pious and believing. Your intrigues would
not admit of it; but now you have the leisure to pursue them with a
right good-will. You have only to discharge, as I have said, the entire
French troupe, and the whole thing is done with.--Adieu, Arnim, may you
be prospered!"

Baron von Arnim muttered some incomprehensible words, and retreated
from the royal presence. The door had scarcely closed, when it was again
opened without ceremony by a young man, wearing a gold-laced dress.

"Your majesty," said he, hastily, in an undertone, "your majesty,
she has just gone to the Palace Park, just the same hour she went
yesterday."

"Is she alone?" asked the king, rising.

"No, she is not alone; at a little distance the nurse follows with the
princely infant!"

The king cast an angry glance at the saucy, laughing face of the young
man, who at once assumed a devoted, earnest mien. "Has your majesty any
further commands?" asked he, timidly.

"I command you to hold your tongue until you are spoken to!" replied
the king, harshly. "You understand spying and hanging about, as you have
good ears, a quick eye, and a keen scent. I therefore make use of you,
because I need a spy; but, understand that a fellow who allows himself
to be used as a spy, is, indeed, a useful subject, but generally a
worthless one, and to whom it is becoming to be modest and humble. I
am now going to Berlin; you will accompany me. Take off your finery, so
that every one may not recognize at once the peacock by his feathers.
Go to the taverns and listen to what they say about the war; whether the
people are much dissatisfied about it. Keep your great ears wide open,
and bring me this evening all the latest news. Go, now, tell my coachman
to be ready; in half an hour I shall set off."

The young man slunk away to the door, but stood without opening it, his
head down, and his under-lip hanging out.

"What is the matter?" asked the king, in a milder tone, "why do you not
go, Kretzschmar?"

"I cannot go away if your majesty is angry with me," muttered the
servant, insolently. "I do not wish to hear or see any thing more for
you when your majesty abuses me, and considers me such a mean, base
fellow. Your majesty first commanded me to listen, and spy, and now that
I am obeying, I am despised and scolded for it. I will have nothing
more to do with it, and I wish your majesty to leave me a simple footman