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〃No；〃 murmured the king； 〃D'Argens will certainly not come； he will remain quietly in his beloved bed； and from there write me a touching epistle concerning the bonds of friendship。 I know that when feeling does not flow from the hearts of men； it flows eloquently from ink as a pitiful compensation。 But；〃 he continued after a pause； 〃this is all folly！ Solitude makes a dreamer of meI am sighing for my friends as a lover sighs for his sweetheart！ Am I then so entirely alone？ Have I not my books？ Come； Lucretius； thou friend in good and evil days； thou sage； thou who hast never left me without counsel and consolation！ Come and cheer thy pupilteach him how to laugh at this pitiful world as it deserves！〃
Taking Lucretius from the table； and stretching himself upon the sofa； he commenced reading。 Deep stillness surrounded him。 Bells were ringing in the distance in honor of the royal birthday。 The Breslauers； who had so shortly before joyfully welcomed the conquering Austrians； now desired to convince the King of Prussia that they were his zealous subjects。 The evening of the kingly birthday they wished to show the joy of their hearts by a brilliant illumination。
The king still read； and became so absorbed that he did not hear the door gently opened。 The tall； slender form of the Marquis d'Argens appeared at the threshold。 Overcome with joyful emotions； he remained standing； and gazing with clouded eyes at the king。 Composing himself； he closed the door softly behind him and advanced。
〃Sire； will you forgive me for entering unannounced？〃
The king sprang from his seat and held out both his hands。 〃Welcome； welcome！ I thank you for coming。〃
The marquis could not reply； he pressed his lips silently upon the king's hands。 〃My God；〃 he said； in a trembling voice； 〃how my heart has longed for this happy momenthow many offerings I have vowed to Heaven if allowed to see the king once more。〃
〃You did not win Heaven by promises alone； friend； but you have offered up a victim。 You have left that precious bed which you have occupied for the past eight monthsyou have gained a victory over yourself which is of more value than many victories。〃
〃Ah； your majesty；〃 cried the marquis； whose black eyes were again sparkling with mirth； 〃I now feel that my poor heart spoke the truth when it declared that you were ever by its side。 We have really not been separated； and your majesty begins with me to…day where you left off but yesterday。 You laugh now as then at me； and my poor bed； which has heard for more than a year past only my sighs and prayers for your majesty's success。 It was not difficult for me to leave it and to obey the summons of my king。 If you think this conquest over myself worth more than a victory over our enemies； how lightly the hero of Rosbach and Leuthen regards victories！〃
〃Not so； marquis； but you know what the renowned King of the Hebrews saidthat wise king who rejoiced in a thousand wives： 'He who conquers himself is greater than he who taketh a city。' You； marquis； are this rare self…conqueror； and you shall be rewarded right royally。 I have had rooms prepared as warm and comfortable as the marquise herself could have arranged for you。 The windows are stuffed with cotton； furs are lying before the stove； cap and foot… muff； so your faithful La Pierre may wrap and bundle you up to your heart's content。 Not a breath of air shall annoy you； and all your necessities shall be provided for with as much reverence as if you were the holy fire in the temple of Vesta； and I the priestess that guards it。〃
The marquis laughed heartily。 〃Should the fire ever burn low and the flame pale； I beg my exalted priestess to cast her burning glance upon me； and thus renew my heat。 Sire； allow me； before all other things； to offer my congratulations。 May Heaven bless this day which rose like a star of hope upon all who love the great； the beautiful； the exalted； and the〃
〃Enough； enough；〃 cried Frederick； 〃if you begin in this way； I shall fly from you； I shall believe you are one of those stupid deputations with which etiquette greets the king。 In this room； friend； there is no king； and when we are here alone we are two simple friends； taking each other warmly by the hand and congratulating ourselves upon having lived through another weary year； and having the courage bravely to meet the years that remain。 Should you still desire to add a wish to this； marquis； pray that the war fever which has seized ail Europe； may disappearthat the triumvirate of France； Russia； and Austria； may be vanquishedthat the tyrants of this universe may not succeed in binding the whole world in the chains they have prepared for it。〃
〃Your majesty will know how to obtain this resultto break this chainand if they will not yield willingly； the hero of Rossbach and Leuthen will know how to crush them in his just rage。〃
〃God grant it！〃 sighed the king； 〃I long for peace； although my enemies say I am the evil genius that brings discord and strife into the world。 They say that if Frederick of Prussia did not exist； the entire world would be a paradise of peace and love。 I could say to them； as Demosthenes said to the Athenians： 'If Philip were dead； what would it signify？ You would soon make another Philip。' I say to the Austrians： 'Your ambition； your desire for universal reign； would soon rouse other enemies。 The liberties of Germany； and indeed of all Europe； will always find defenders。' We will speak no more of these sad themes； they belong to the past and the future。 Let us try to forget； friend； that we are in winter quarters at Breslau； and imagine ourselves to be at our dear Sans…Souci。〃
〃In our beautiful convent；〃 said the marquis； 〃whose abbot has so long been absent； and whose monks are scattered to the four winds。〃
〃It is true；〃 sighed the king； gloomily； 〃widely scattered； and when the abbot returns to Sans…Souci； every thing will be changed and lonely。 Oh； marquis； how much I have lost since we parted！〃
〃How much you have gained； sire！ how many new laurels crown your heroic brow！〃
〃You speak of my victories；〃 said the king； shaking his head； 〃but believe me； my heart has suffered defeats from which it will never recover。 I am not speaking of the death of my motheralthough that is a wound that will never heal； that came from the hand of Providence； against its decrees no man dare murmur。 I speak of more bitter； more cruel defeats； occasioned by the ingratitude and baseness of men。〃
〃Your majesty still thinks of the unworthy Abbot of Prades；〃 said D'Argens； sadly。
〃No； marquis； that hurt； I confess。 I liked him； but I never loved himhe was not my friend； his treachery grieved but did not surprise me。 I knew he was weak。 He sold me！ Finding himself in my camp； he made use of his opportunity and betrayed to the enemy all that came to his knowledge。 He had a small soul； and upon such men you cannot count。 But from another source I received a great wrong this lies like iron upon my heart； and hardens it。 I loved Bishop Schaffgotsch； marquis； I called him friend； I gave him proof of my friendship。 I had a right to depend on his faithfulness； and believe in a friendship he had so often confirmed by oaths。 My love； at least was unselfish； and deserved not to be betrayed。 But he was false in the hour of danger； like Peter who betrayed his Master。 The Austrians had scarcely entered Breslau； when he not only denied me； but went furtherhe trampled upon the orders of my house； and held a Te Deum in the dome in honor of the Austrian victory at Collin。〃 The king ceased and turned away； that the marquis might not see the tears that clouded his eyes。
〃Sire；〃 cried the marquis； deeply moved； 〃forget the ingratitude of these weak souls； who were unworthy of a hero's friendship。〃
〃I will； but enough of this。 You are here； and I still believe in you； marquis。 You and the good Lord Marshal are the only friends left me to lean upon when the baseness of men makes my heart fail。〃
〃These friends will never fail you； sire；〃 said the marquis； deeply moved； 〃your virtues and your love made them strong。〃
The king took his hand affectionately。 〃Let us forget the past；〃 said he； gayly； 〃and as we both； in our weak hours； consider ourselves poets； let us dream that we are in my library in our beloved Sans…Souci。 We will devote this holy time of peace to our studies； for that is； without doubt； the best use we can make of it。 You shall see a flood of verses with which I amused myself in camp； and some epigrams written against my enemies。〃
〃But if we were even now in Sans…Souci； sire； I do not think you would give this hour to books。 I dare assert you would be practising with Quantz； and preparing for the evening concerts。〃
〃Yes； yes； but here we are denied that happiness；〃 said the king； sadly。 〃I have written for a part of my band； and they will be here I hope in eight days； but Graun and Quantz will certainly not〃 The king paused and listened attentively。 It seemed to him as if he heard the sound of a violin in the adjoining room； accompanied by the light tones of a flute。 Yes； it was indeed so； some one was tuning a violin and the soft sound of the flute mingled with the violoncello。 A flush of rosy joy lighted the king's facehe cast