frederick the great and his family-第17章
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t 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。
The king understood this well； and on leaving the house of the last rich merchant he breathed more freely； and said：
〃I am glad that is over。 The rudeness of the postmaster at Grave pleased me better than the civilities of these people。 Come； Balby； we have bought pictures enough； now we will only admire them； enjoy without appropriating them。 The rich banker； Abramson； is said to have a beautiful collection； we will examine them； and then have our draft cashed。〃
The banker's splendid house was soon found； and the brothers entered the house boldly； and demanded of the richly…dressed； liveried servant to be conducted to the gallery。
〃This is not the regular day；〃 said the servant； with a contemptuous shrug of the shoulders； as he measured the two strangers。
〃Not the day！ What day？〃 asked the king； sharply。
〃Not the day of general exhibition。 You must wait until next Tuesday。〃
〃Impossible； we leave to…morrow。 Go to your master and tell him two strangers wish to see his gallery； and beg it may be opened for them。〃
There was something so haughty and irresistible in the stranger's manner； that the servant not daring to refuse； and still astonished at his own compliance； went to inform his master of the request。 He returned in a few moments； and announced that his master would come himself to receive them。
The door opened immediately； and Mr。 Abramson stepped into the hall； his face； bright and friendly； darkened when his black eyes fell upon the two strangers standing in the hall。
〃You desired to speak to me；〃 he said； in the arrogant tone that the rich Jews are accustomed to use when speaking to unknown and poor people。 〃What is your wish； sirs？〃
The king's brow darkened； and he looked angrily at the supercilious man of fortune； who was standing opposite him； with his head proudly thrown back； and his hands in his pockets。 But Frederick's countenance soon cleared； and he said； with perfect composure：
〃We wish you to show us your picture…gallery； sir。〃
The tone in which he spoke was less pleading than commanding； and roused the anger of the easily enraged parvenu。
〃Sir； I have a picture…gallery； arranged for my own pleasure and paid for with my own money。 I am very willing to show it to all who have not the money to purchase pictures for themselves； and to satisfy the curiosity of strangers； I have set aside a day in each week on which to exhibit my gallery。〃
〃You mean； then； sir； that you will not allow us to enter your museum？〃 said the king； smilingly； and laying his hand at the same time softly on Balby's arm； to prevent him from speaking。
〃I mean that my museum is closed； and〃
A carriage rolled thunderingly to the door； the outer doors of the hall were hastily opened； a liveried servant entered； and stepping immediately to Mr。 Abramson； he said：
〃Lord Middlestone； of Loudon； asks the honor of seeing your gallery。〃
The countenance of the Jewish banker beamed with delight。
〃Will his excellency have the graciousness to enter？ I consider it an honor to show him my poor treasures。 My gallery is closed to…day； but for Lord Middlestone； I will open it gladly。〃
His contemptuous glance met the two poor musicians； who had stepped aside； and were silent witnesses of this scene。
The outer doors of the court were opened noisily； and a small； shrivelled human form； assisted by two servants； staggered into the hall。 It was an old man； wrapped in furs； this was his excellency Lord Middlestone。 Mr。 Abramson met him with a profound bow； and sprang forward to the door that led to the gallery。
Every eye was fixed upon this sad picture of earthly pomp and greatness； all felt the honor to the house of Mr。 Abramson。 Lord Middlestone； the ambassador of the King of England； desired to see his collection。 This was an acknowledgment of merit that delighted the heart of the banker； and added a new splendor to his house。
While the door was being opened to admit his lordship； Balby and the king left the house unnoticed。
The king was angry； and walked silently along for a time； suddenly remaining standing； he gazed steadily at Balby； and broke out into a loud； merry laugh； that startled the passers…by； and made them look wonderingly after him。
〃Balby； my friend；〃 he said； still laughing； 〃I will tell you something amusing。 Never in my life did I feel so humble and ashamed as when his excellency entered the gallery so triumphantly； and we slipped away so quietly from the house。 Truly； I was fool enough to be angry at first； but I now feel that the scene was irresistibly comic。 Oh！ oh； Balby！ do laugh with me。 Think of us； who imagine ourselves to be such splendidly handsome men； being shown the door； and that horrid shrunken； diseased old man being received with such consideration！ He smelt like a salve…box； we are odorous with ambrosia； but all in vain； Abramson preferred the salve…box。〃
〃Abramson's olfactories are not those of a courtier；〃 said Balby； 〃or he would have fainted at the odor of royalty。 But truly； this Mr。 Abramson is a disgraceful person； and I beg your majesty to avenge Mr。 Zoller。〃
〃I shall do so。 He deserves punishment； he has insulted me as a man； the king will punish him。〃 ＇Footnote： The king kept his word。 The Jew heard afterward that it was the king whom he had treated so disrespectfully； and here could never obtain his forgiveness。 He was not allowed to negotiate with the Prussian government or banks； and was thus bitterly punished for his misconduct。＇
〃And now we will have our check cashed by Mr。 Witte。 I bet he will not dismiss us so curtly； for my draft is for ten thousand crowns； and he will be respectfulif not to us； to our money。〃
The worthy and prosperous Madame Witte had just finished dusting and cleaning her state apartment； and was giving it a last artistic survey。 She smiled contentedly； and acknowledged that there was nothing more to be done。 The mirrors and windows were of transparent brightnessno dust was seen on the silk furniture or the costly ornamentsit was perfect。 With a sad sigh Madame Witte left the room and locked the door with almost a feeling of regret。 She must deny herself for the next few days her favorite occupationthere was nothing more to dust or clean in the apartment and only in this room was her field of operationonly here did her husband allow her to play the servant。 With this exception he required of her to be the lady of the housethe noble wife of the rich bankerand this was a role that pleased the good woman but little。 She locked the door with a sigh and drew on her shoes； which she was accustomed always to leave in the hall before entering her state apartment； then stepped carefully on the border of the carpet that covered the hall to another door。 At this moment violent ringing was heard at the front door。 Madame Witte moved quickly forward to follow the bent of her womanly curiosity and see who desired admittance at this unusual hour。 Two strangers had already entered the hall and desired to see the banker。
〃Mr。 Witte is not at home； and if your business is not too pressing； call again early to…morrow morning。〃
