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ho is sure of his position； and is neither confused nor offended。
Madame Blaken was somewhat provoked by this unrestrained merriment。 〃You laugh； sir； but I have good reason for supposing you to be poor and unknown。 You came covered with dust and on foot to my hotel； accompanied by one servant carrying a small carpet…bag。 You have neither equipage； retinue； nor baggage。 You receive no visits； and； as it appears； make none。 You are always dressed in your simple； modest； rather forlorn…looking brown coats。 You have never taken a dinner here； but pass the day abroad； and when you return in the evening you ask for a cup of tea and a few slices of bread and butter。 Rich people do not travel in this style； and I therefore have the right to ask if you can afford to pay for my pasty？ I do not know who or what you are； nor your brother's position In the world。〃
〃Oh；〃 cried Balby who was highly amused by the candor of the hostess； 〃my brother has a most distinguished position； I assure youhis fame resounds throughout Germany。〃
〃Bah I〃 said Madame Blaken； shrugging her shoulders； 〃the name is entirely unknown to us。 Pray； what is your brother； and for what is he celebrated？〃
〃For his flute；〃 answered Balby； with solemn gravity。 Madame Blaken rose and glanced scornfully at Balby。 〃Are you mating sport of me； sir？〃 said she； threateningly。
〃Not in the least； madame； I am telling you an important truth。 My brother is a renowned virtuoso。〃
〃A virtuoso？〃 repeated the hostess； 〃I do not understand the word。 Pray； what is a virtuoso？〃
〃A virtuoso； madame； is a musician who makes such music as no other man can make。 He gives concerts； and sells the tickets for an enormous price； and the world rushes to hear his music。 I assure you； madame； my brother can play so enchantingly that those who hear his flute are forced to dance in spite of themselves。 He receives large sums of gold； and if he gives a concert here you will see that all your distinguished people will flock to hear him。 You can set your pasty before him without fearhe is able to pay richly for it。〃
Madame Blaken rose without a word and advanced toward the door。 〃Come； sir； come。 I am going to your brother。〃 Without waiting for an answer； she stepped through the corridor and tapped lightly at the stranger's door。 She was on the point of opening it； but Balby caught her hand hastily。
〃Madame；〃 said he； 〃allow me to enter and inquire if you can be received。〃 He wished to draw her back from the door； but the hostess of the Black Raven was not the woman to be withdrawn。
〃You wish to ask if I can enter？〃 repeated she。 〃I may well claim that privilege in my own house。〃
With a determined hand she knocked once more upon the door； opened it immediately and entered； followed by Balby； who by signs endeavored to explain and beg pardon for the intrusion。
Frederick did not regard him； his blue eyes were fixed upon the woman who； with laughing good…humor； stepped up to him and held out both of her large； course hands in greeting。
〃Sir； I come to convince myself if what your brother said was true。〃
〃Well； madame； what has my brother said？〃
〃He declares that yon can whistle splendidly； and all the world is forced to dance after your music。〃
〃I said play the flute； madame！ I said play the flute！〃 cried Balby； horrified。 〃Well； flute or whistle；〃 said Madame Blaken； proudly； 〃it's the same thing。 Be so good； sir； as to whistle me something； I will then decide as to the pasty。〃 The king looked at Balby curiously。 〃Will you have the goodness； brother； to explain madame's meaning； and what she requires of me？〃
〃Allow me to explain myself； 〃said the hostess。 〃This gentle…man came and ordered a rich pie for you； this pasty has given celebrity to my house。 It is true I have one prepared； but I would not send it to you。 Would you know why？ This is an enormously expensive dish； and I have no reason to believe that you are in a condition to pay for it。 I said this to your brother； and I might with truth have told him that I regretted to see him in my hotelnot that you are in yourselves objectionable； on the contrary； you appear to me to be harmless and amiable men； but because of your purses。 I fear that you do not know the charges of first…class hotels； and will be amazed at your bill。 Your brother； however； assures me that you can afford to pay for all you order； that you make a great deal of money； that you are a virtuoso； give concerts； and sell tickets at the highest price。 Now； I will convince myself if you are a great musician and can support yourself。 Whistle me something； and I will decide as to the pie。〃
The king listened to all this with suppressed merriment； and gave Balby a significant look。
〃Bring my flute； brother； I will convince madame that I am indeed a virtuoso。〃
〃Let us hear；〃 said Madame Blaken； seating herself upon the sofa from which the king had just arisen。
Frederick made； with indescribable solemnity； a profound bow to the hostess。 He placed the flute to his lips and began to play； but not in his accustomed masterly stylenot in those mild； floating melodies； those solemn sacred； and exalted strains which it was his custom to draw from his beloved flute。 He played a gay and brilliant solo； full of double trills and rhapsodies； it was an astounding medley； which seemed to make a triumphal march over the instrument； overcoming all difficulties。 But those soft tones which touched the soul and roused to noble thoughts were wanting； in truth； the melody failed； the music was wanting。
Madame Blaken listened with ever…increasing rapture to this wondrous exercise； these trills； springing from octave to octave； drew forth her loudest applause； she trembled with ecstasy； and as the king closed with a brilliant cadence； she clapped her hands and shouted enthusiastically。 She stood up respectfully before the artiste in the simple brown coat； and bowing low； said earnestly：
〃Your brother was right； you can surely earn much money by your whistle。 You whistle as clearly as my mocking…bird。 You shall have the pieI go to order it at once；〃 and she hastened from the room。
〃Well；〃 said the king； laughing； 〃this was a charming scene； and I thank you for it； brother Henry。 It is a proud and happy feeling to know that you can stand upon your feet； or walk alone； in other words； that you can earn a support。 Now； if the sun of Prussia sets； I shall not hunger； for I can earn my bread； Madame Blaken assures me of it。 But； Henry； did I not play eminently？〃
〃That was the most glittering； dazzling piece for a concert which I ever heard；〃 said Balby； 〃and Mr。 Zoller may well be proud of it； but I counsel him not to play it before the King of Prussia； he would； in his jealousy； declare it was not music； nothing but sound； and signifying nothing。〃
〃Bravo； my friend； 〃said Frederick； taking his friend's hand； 〃yes； he would say that。 Mr。 Zoller played like a true virtuoso； that is to say； without intellect and without soul； he did not make music； only artistic tones。 But here comes the pasty； and I shall relish it wondrous well。 It is the first meat I have ever earned with my flute。 Let us eat； brother Henry。〃
CHAPTER XV。
THE KING WITHOUT SHOES。
The pie was really worthy of its reputation； and the king enjoyed it highly。 He was gay and talkative； and amused himself in recalling the varied adventures of the past five days。
〃They will soon be tempi passati； these giorni felice；〃 he said； sighing。 〃To…day is the last day of our freedom and happiness； to… morrow we must take up our yoke； and exchange our simple brown coats for dashing uniforms。〃
〃I know one； at least； who is rejoicing；〃 said Balby； laughing； 〃the unhappy Deesen； who has just sworn most solemnly that he would throw himself in the river if he had to play much longer the part of a servant without liverya servant of two unknown musicians； and he told me； with tears in his eyes； that not a respectable man in the house would speak to him； that the pretty maids would not even listen to his soft sighs and tender words。〃
〃Dress makes the man；〃 said the king； laughing； 〃if Deesen wore his cabinet…hussar livery these proud beauties who now despise； would smile insidiously。 How strangely the world is constituted！ But let us enjoy our freedom while we may。 We still have some collections of paintings to examinehere are some splendid pictures of Rembrandt and Rubens to be sold。 Then； last of all； I have an important piece of business to transact with the great banker； Witte； on whom I have a draft。 You know that Madame Blaken is expensive； and the picture… dealers will not trust our honest faces； we must show them hard cash。〃
〃Does yourShall I not go to the bankers and draw the money？〃 said Balby。 〃Oh no； I find it pleasant to serve myself； to be my own master and servant at the same time。 Allow me this rare pleasure for a few hours longer； Balby。〃 The king took his friend's arm； and recommenced his search for paintings and treasures to adorn his gallery at Sans…Souci。 Everywhere he was received kindly and respectfully； for all recognized them as purchasers； and not idle sight…seers。 The dealers appreciated the difference between idle enthusiasm and well…filled purses。
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