ast four days?"

It was easy enough to recommend him to show no surprise, but it was also
necessary to settle upon some definite attitude to take. And what about
this "Wulf"?

Frederick-Christian would have a look at this individual who claimed to
be his friend and his next door neighbor. Accordingly he rang the bell,
and sent down the message which Wulf received in the barroom. A wait of
twenty minutes followed and then the door opened without ceremony and
the King stood rooted in amazement at the appearance of his Secret
Service Chief. In the most natural manner in the world, Wulf entered the
room and stood looking slyly at the King. Then, smilingly, he said:

"Well, Sire, feel better?"

"What!" stuttered Frederick-Christian, scarcely able to speak for
indignation.

"Yes," continued Wulf, "I'm glad to see you up; as for me, I'm all
right ... but you must remember that I drank less than you did last
night. I tell you they've capital vermouth here ... shall I order your
Majesty a bottle?"

"What's your name?" asked the King.

Wulf considered his sovereign with compassion.

"He's still a bit soused," he muttered to himself, then wagging a
reproving finger at the King, he continued:

"Who am I? Wulfenmimenglaschk, Sire, at your service, and I've already
saved your life twice ... that's why I may be allowed to give you a bit
of advice. Cut out the booze, Sire, you're distinctly the worse for
wear ... you're so changed that if it wasn't for your dressing-gown...."

Wulf was undoubtedly very drunk; otherwise he could not have failed to
notice the difference between the King of the last few days and the
present one.

Frederick-Christian held himself in hand as long as possible, then burst
out:

"What does this attitude mean?... this familiarity? What makes you speak
in French?"

Wulf was first amazed at the change in his beloved master and inclined
to weep over his humiliation. He was about to give utterance to his
feelings when the King seized him by the arm and pointed to the
_Hesse-Weimar Gazette_.

"Read that! Who furnished this information?"

"Why, I did, Sire."

"Then you mean to say you have been continually with me. You occupy the
next apartment? You enjoy my friendship?"

"Yes, Sire."

The King, in a burst of rage, now held the unfortunate Wulf by the
collar and shoving him toward the door, ejected him onto the landing
with a prodigious kick.

* * * * *

Fre