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k but little in requiring us to take off our shoes before entering your state apartment〃 He stooped to undo the buckles of his shoes； and when Balby wished to assist him； he resisted。 〃No； no； you shall not loosen my shoesyou are too worthy for that。 Madame Witte might think that I am a very assuming personthat I tyrannize over my brother。 There； madame； the buckles are undone； and there lie my shoes； and now we are ready to enter your state apartment。〃
Madame Witte opened the door with cold gravity； and allowed them to pass。 〃To…morrow I can dust again；〃 she said； gleefully； 〃for the strangers' clothes are very dirty。〃
In the mean time； the two strangers awaited the arrival of Mr。 Witte。 The king enjoyed his comic situation immensely。 Balby looked anxiously at the bare feet of the king； and said he should never have submitted to Madame Witte's caprice。 The floor was cold； and the king might be taken ill。
〃Oh； no；〃 said Frederick； 〃I do not get sick so easilymy system can stand severer hardships。 We should be thankful that we have come off so cheaply； for a rich banker like Witte in Amsterdam； is equal to the Pope in Rome； and I do not think taking off our shoes is paying too dearly to see the pope of Holland。 Just think what King Henry IV。 had to lay aside before he could see the Pope of Romenot only his shoes and stockings and a few other articles； but his royalty and majesty。 Madame Witte is really for bearing not to require the same costume of us。〃
The door behind them was opened hastily； and the banker Witte stepped in。 He advanced to meet them with a quiet smile； but suddenly checked himself； and gazed with terror at the king。
〃My God！ his majesty the King of Prussia！〃 he stammered。 〃Oh！ your majesty！ what an undeserved favor you are doing my poor house in honoring it with your presence！〃
〃You know me； then？〃 said the king； smiling。 〃Well； I beg you may not betray my incognito； and cash for Frederick Zoller this draft of ten thousand crowns。〃
He stepped forward to hand the banker the draft。 Mr。 Witte uttered a cry of horror； and； wringing his hands； fell upon his knees。 He had just seen that the king was barefooted。
〃Oh！ your majesty！ Mercy！ mercy！〃 he pleaded。 〃Pardon my unhappy wife who could not dream of the crime she was committing。 Why did your majesty consent to her insane demand？ Why did you not peremptorily refuse to take off your shoes？〃
〃Why？ Well； ma foi； because I wished to spare the King of Prussia a humiliation。 I believe Madame Witte would rather have thrown me out of the house than allowed me to enter this sacred room with my shoes on。〃
〃No； your majesty； no。 She would〃
At this moment the door opened； and Madame Witte； drawn by the loud voice of her husband； entered the room。
〃Wife！〃 he cried； rising； 〃come forward； fall on your knees and plead for forgiveness。〃
〃What have I done？〃 she asked； wonderingly。
〃You compelled this gentleman to take off his shoes at the door。〃
〃Well； and what of that？〃
〃Well；〃 said Mr。 Witte； solemnly； as he laid his arm upon his wife's shoulder and tried to force her to her knees； 〃this is his majesty the King of Prussia！〃
But the all…important words had not the expected effect。 Madame Witte remained quietly standing； and looked first upon her own bare feet and then curiously at the king。
〃Beg the king's pardon for your most unseemly conduct；〃 said Witte。
〃Why was it unseemly？〃 asked his better…half。 〃Do I not take off my shoes every time I enter this room？ The room is mine； and does not belong to the King of Prussia。〃
Witte raised his hands above his head in despair。 The king laughed loudly and heartily。
〃You see I was right； sir；〃 he said。 〃Only obedience could spare the King of Prussia a humiliation。 ＇Footnote： The king's own words。 see Nicolai's 〃anecdotes of Frederick the Great； 〃collection V。； P。31＇ But let us go to your business room and arrange our moneyed affairs。 There； madame； I suppose you will allow me to put on my shoes。〃
Without a word； Mr。 Witte rushed from the room for the king's shoes； and hastened to put them； not before the king； but before the door that led into his counting room。
With a gay smile； the king stepped along the border of the carpet to his shoes； and let Balby put them on for him。
〃Madame；〃 he said； 〃I see that you are really mistress in your own house； and that you are obeyed； not from force； but from instinct。 God preserve you your strong will and your good husband！〃
〃Now；〃 said the king； after they had received the money and returned to the hotel； 〃we must make all our arrangements to return to…morrow morning earlyour incognito is over！ Mr。 Witte promised not to betray us； but his wife is not to be trusted； therefore； by to… morrow morning； the world will know that the King of Prussia is in Amsterdam。 Happily； Mr。 Witte does not know where I am stopping。 I hope to be undisturbed to…day； but by to…morrow this will be impossible。〃
The king prophesied aright： Madame Witte was zealously engaged in telling her friends the important news that the King of Prussia had visited her husband； and was now in Amsterdam。
The news rolled like an avalanche from house to house； from street to street； and even reached the major's door； who； in spite of the lateness of the hour； called a meeting of the magistrates； and sent policemen to all the hotels to demand a list of the strangers who had arrived during the last few days。 In order to greet the king； they must first find him。
Early the next morning； a simple caleche； with two horses； stood at the hotel of the 〃Black Raven。〃 The brothers Zoller were about to leave Amsterdam； and； to Madame Blaken's astonishment； they not only paid their bill without murmuring； but left a rich douceur for the servants。 The hostess stepped to the door to bid them farewell； and nodded kindly as they came down the steps。 Their servant followed with the little carpet…bag and the two music…cases。
When Deesen became aware of the presence of the hostess； and the two head…servants； he advanced near to the king。
〃Your majesty； may I now speak？〃 he murmured。
〃Not yet；〃 said the king； smiling； 〃wait until we are in the carriage。〃
He descended the steps； with a friendly nod to the hostess。 Balby and himself left the house。
〃See； my friend； how truly I prophesied；〃 he said； as he pointed down the street； 〃let us get in quickly； it is high time to be off； see the crowd advancing。〃
Frederick was right； from the end of the street there came a long procession of men； headed by the two mayors； dressed in black robes； trimmed with broad red bands。 They were followed by the senators； clothed in the same manner。 A great number of the rich aristocrats of the city accompanied them。
Madame Blaken had stepped from the house； and was looking curiously at the approaching crowd； and while she and her maids were wondering what this could mean； the two Mr。 Zollers entered the carriage； and their servant had mounted the box。
〃May I speak now？〃 said Deesen； turning to the king。
〃Yes； speak；〃 said the king； 〃but quickly； or the crowd will take your secret from you。〃
〃Hostess！〃 cried Deesen； from the box； 〃do you know what that crowd means？〃
〃No；〃 she said； superciliously。
〃I will explain； listen； madame。 The magistrates are coming to greet the King of Prussia！〃
〃The King of Prussia！〃 shrieked the hostess。 〃Where is the King of Prussia？〃
〃Here！〃 cried Deesen； with a malicious grin； as he pointed to the king； 〃and I am his majesty's cabinet…hussar！ Forward； postilion！ quick； forward！〃
The postilion whipped his horses； and the carriage dashed by the mayors and senators； who were marching to greet the King of Prussia。 They never dreamed that he had just passed mischievously by them。
Two days later； the king and his companions stood on the Prussian border； on the spot where； in the beginning of their journey； the king had written the words 〃majesty〃 and 〃sire。〃
〃Look！〃 he said； pointing to the ground； 〃the two fatal words have not vanished away； the sun has hardened the ground； and they are still legible。 I must lift them from the sand； and wear them henceforth and forever。 Give me your hand； Balby； the poor musician； Frederick Zoller； will bid farewell to his friend； and not only to you； Balby； but farewell also to my youth。 This is my last youthful adventure。 Now； I shall grow old and cold gracefully。 One thing I wish to say before I resume my royalty； confidentially； I am not entirely displeased with the change。 It seems to me difficult to fill the role of a common man。 Men do not seem to love and trust each other fully； a man avenges himself on an innocent party for the wrongs another has committed。 Besides； I do not rightly understand the politenesses of common life； and； therefore； received many reproaches。 I believe； on the whole； it is easier to bestow than to receive them。 Therefore； I take up my crown willingly。〃
〃Will your majesty allow me a word？〃 said Deesen； stepping forward。
〃Speak； Deesen。〃
〃I thank Mr。 Zoller for saving my life。 As true as God lives； I should have stifled with rage if I had not told that haughty Hollander who Mr。 Zoller was and who I was。〃
〃Now； forward！ Farewell； Frederick Zoller！ Now I am on Prus