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ean； and make all the coffee sisters adore me。〃
The king was highly amused。 〃This dress certainly has the power of enchantment。 When Colonel Balby puts on these clothes he will be invisible； but he shall not undergo this transformation alone。 See； here is another suit； exactly like yours； and this is mine。 When I array myself in it； I am no longer the king of Prussia； but a free； happy man。〃
〃Ah； you are speaking of a disguise；〃 cried the colonel。
〃Yes； we will amuse ourselves by playing the role of common men for a while； and wander about unnoticed and undisturbed。 Are you agreed； Balby； or do you love your colonel's uniform better than your freedom？〃
〃Am I agreed； sire？〃 cried the colonel； 〃I am delighted with this genial thought。〃
〃Then take your dress； friend； and put it on。 But stay。 Did you bring your violin with you； as I told you？〃
〃Yes； sire。〃
〃Well； then； when you are dressed； put your violin in a case； and with the case under your arm； and a little money in your pocket； go to the pavilion at the farthest end of the garden； there I will meet you。 Now hasten； friend； we have no time to lose。〃
According to the king's orders； Colonel Balby dressed and went to the pavilion。 He did not find the king； but two strange men there。 One of them had on a brown coat； the color of his own； ornamented with large buttons of mother…of…pearl； black pantaloons； and shoes with large buckles； set with dull white stones； the lace on his sleeves and vest was very coarse。 He wore a three…cornered hat； without ornament； from under the hat fell long； brown； unpowdered hair。
Behind this stranger there stood another； in plain； simple clothes； under one arm he carried a small bag； and under the other a case that contained either a yard…stick or a flute。 He returned the colonel's salutation with a grimace and a profound bow。 A short pause ensued； then the supposed strangers laughed heartily and exclaimed：
〃Do you not know us； Balby？〃
Their voices started the colonel； and he stepped back。
〃Sire； it is yourself。〃
〃Yes； it is I； Fredericknot the king。 Yes； I am Frederick； and this capital servant is my good Deesen； who has sworn solemnly not to betray our incognito； and to give no one reason to suspect his high dignity as royal cabinet…hussar。 For love of us he will； for a few days； be the servant of two simple； untitled musicians； who are travelling around the world； seeking their fortunes； but who； unfortunately； have no letters of recommendation。〃
〃But who will recommend themselves by their talents and accomplishments。〃
The king laughed aloud。 〃Balby； you forget that you are a poor musician； chatting with your comrade。 Truly your courtly bow suits your dress as little as a lace veil would a beggar's attire； you must lay your fine manners aside for a short time； for； with them； you would appear to the village beauties we may meet like a monkey； and they would laugh at instead of kissing you。〃
〃So we are to meet country beauties；〃 said Colonel Balby； no longer able to suppress his curiosity。 〃Tell me； sire； where are we going； and what are we going to do？ I shall die of curiosity。〃
〃Make an effort to die；〃 said the king； gayly； 〃you will find it is not so easy to do as you imagine。 But I will torture you no longer。 You ask what we are going to do。 Well； we are going to amuse ourselves and seek adventures。 You ask where we are going。 Ask that question of the sparrow that sits on the house…topask where it is going； and what is the aim of its journey。 It will reply； the next bush； the nearest tree； the topmost bough of a weeping willow； which stands on a lonely grave； the mast of a ship； sailing on the wide sea； or the branch of a noble beech； waving before the window of a beautiful maiden。 I am as incapable of telling you the exact aim and end of our journey； friend； as that little bird would be。 We are as free as the birds of the air。 Come！ come！ let us fly； for see； the little sparrow has flownlet us follow it。〃
And with a beaming smile illuminating his countenance； like a ray of the morning sun； the king took the arm of his friend； and followed by his servant and cabinet…hussar； Deesen； left the pavilion。
As they stood at the little gate of the garden； the king said to Deesen；
〃You must be for us the angel with the flaming sword； and open the gates of paradise； but not to cast us out。〃
Deesen opened the gate； and our adventurers entered 〃the wide； wide world。〃
〃Let us stand here a few moments；〃 said the king； as his glance rested upon the green fields spread far and wide around him。 〃How great and beautiful the world appears to…day！ Observe Nature's grand silence； yet the air is full of a thousand voices； and the white clouds wandering dreamily in the blue heavens above； are they not the misty veils with which the gods of Olympus conceal their charms？〃
〃Ah！ sire；〃 said Balby； with a loving glance at the king's hand some face〃ah； sire； my eyes have no time to gaze at Nature's charms； they are occupied with yourself。 When I look upon you； I feel that man is indeed made in the image of God。〃
〃Were I a god； I should not be content to resemble this worn； faded face。 Come； now； let us be off！ Give me your instrument； Deesen； I will carry it。 Now I look like a travelling apprentice seeking his fortune。 The world is all before him where to choose his place of rest； and Providence his guide。 I envy him。 He is a free man！〃
〃Truly； these poor apprentices would not believe that a king was envying them their fate；〃 said Balby； laughing。
〃Still they are to be envied；〃 said the king； 〃for they are free。 No； no； at present I envy no one； the world and its sunshine belong to me。 We will go to Amsterdam； and enjoy the galleries and museums。〃
〃I thank your majesty；〃 said Balby； laughing； 〃you have saved my life。 I should have died of curiosity if you had not spoken。 Now； I feel powerful and strong； and can keep pace with your majesty's wandering steps。〃
Silently they walked on until they reached a sign…post。
〃We are now on the borderlet us bid farewell to the Prussian colors； we see them for the last time。 Sire； we will greet them with reverence。〃
He took off his hat and bowed lowly before the black and white colors of Prussia； a greeting that Deesen imitated with the fervor of a patriot。
The king did not unite in their enthusiasm； he was writing with his stick upon the ground。
〃Come here； Balby； and read this；〃 he said； pointing to the lines he had traced。 〃Can you read them？〃
〃Certainly；〃 said Balby； 〃the words are； 'majesty' and 'sire。'〃
〃So they are； friend。 I leave these two words on the borders of Prussia； perhaps on our return we may find and resume them。 But as long as we are on the soil of Holland there must be no majesty； no sire。〃
〃What； then； must I call my king？〃
〃 You must call him friend； voila tout。〃
〃And I？〃 asked Deesen； respectfully。 〃Will your majesty be so gracious as to tell me your name？〃
〃I am Mr。 Zoller； travelling musician； and should any one ask you what I want in Amsterdam； tell them I intend giving a concert。 En avant； mes amis。 There lies the first small village of Holland； in an hour we shall be there； and then we will take the stage and go a little into the interior。 En avant； en avant！〃
CHAPTER XII。
TRAVELLING ADVENTURES。
The stage stood before the tavern at Grave； and awaited its passengers。 The departure of the stage was an important occurrence to the inhabitants of the little townan occurrence that disturbed the monotony of their lives for a few moments； and showed them at least now and then a new face； that gave them something to think of； and made them dream of the far…off city where the envied travellers were going。
Today all Grave was in commotion and excitement。 The strangers had arrived at the post…house； and after partaking of an excellent dinner； engaged three seats in the stage。 The good people of Grave hoped to see three strange faces looking out of the stage window； many were the surmises of their destiny and their possible motives for travelling。 They commenced these investigations while the strangers were still with them。
A man had seen them enter the city； dusty and exhausted； and he declar