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s； sir？〃
〃Why？〃 asked Niclas； who was proud to play so distinguished a part before his comrades〃you wish to know why I desire to see your passports？ Well； then； because you appear to me to be suspicious characters。〃
A gay laugh was heard from the stage。 〃Why do you suspect us？〃
〃Because I never trust people travelling without baggage；〃 was the laconic reply。
〃Bravo！ well answered；〃 cried the crowd； and even Madame Niclas was surprised to see her husband show such daring courage。
〃We need no baggage。 We are travelling musicians； going to Amsterdam。〃
〃Travelling musicians All the more reason for mistrusting you； no good was ever heard of wandering musicians。〃
〃You are becoming impertinent； sir；〃 and Balby； the tallest and youngest of the two friends； sprang from the stage； while the servant swung himself from the box； where he was sitting with the postilion； and with an enraged countenance placed himself beside his master。
〃If you dare to speak another insulting word； you are lost；〃 cried Balby。
A hand was laid on his shoulder； and a voice murmured in his ear：
〃Do not compromise us。〃
The king now also left the stage； and tried to subdue the anger of his companion。
〃Pardon； sir； the violence of my friend；〃 said the king； with an ironical smile； as he bowed to the postmaster。 〃We are not accustomed to being questioned and suspected in this manner； and I can assure you that； although we are travelling musicians； as it pleased you to say； we are honest people； and have played before kings and queens。〃
〃If you are honest； show me your passports； no honest man travels without one！〃
〃It appears to me that no rascal should travel without one；〃 said the king。 〃I will obtain one immediately；〃 said Balby； hastening to the door。
The king held him back。 〃My brother； you are very innocent and thoughtless。 You forget entirely that we are suspected criminals。 Should we demand a light； and immediately appear with our passes； do you not believe that this dragon of a postmaster would immediately think that we had written them ourselves； and put a forged seal under them？〃
〃How； then； are we to get a light？〃 said Balby； confused。
The king thought a moment； then laughed gayly。
〃I have found a way；〃 he said； 〃go down into the dining…room； where I noticed an eternal lamp burning； not to do honor to the Mother of God； but to smokers； light your cigar and bring it here。 I will light the sealing…wax by it； and we will have the advantage of drowning the smell of the wax with the smoke。〃
Balby flew away； and soon returned with the burning cigar； the king lit the sealing…wax； and put the seal under the passport。
〃This will proclaim us free from all crime。 Now； brother Henry； call the worthy postmaster。〃
When Niclas received the passport from the king's hand his countenance cleared； and he made the two gentlemen a graceful bow； and begged them to excuse the severity that his duty made necessary。
〃We have now entirely convinced you that we are honest people；〃 said the king； smiling； 〃and you will forgive us that we have so little baggage。〃
〃Well； I understand；〃 said Mr。 Niclas； confusedly； 〃musicians are seldom rich； but live from hand to mouth； and must thank God if their clothes are good and clean。 Yours are entirely new； and you need no baggage。〃
The king laughed merrily。 〃Can we now go？〃 he asked。
〃Yes； but how； sir？ You doubtlessly heard that the postilion left as soon as you entered the house。〃
〃Consequently we are without a conveyance； we have paid for our places for nothing； and must remain in this miserable place；〃 said the king； impatiently。
Niclas reddened with anger。 〃Sir； what right have you to call the town of Grave a miserable place？ Believe me； it would be very difficult for you to become a citizen of this miserable place； for you must prove that you have means enough to live in a decent manner； and it appears to me〃
〃That we do not possess them；〃 said the king； 〃vraiment； you are right； our means are very insufficient； and as the inhabitants of Grave will not grant us the rights of citizens； it is better for us to leave immediately。 Have； therefore； the goodness to furnish us with the means of doing so。〃
〃There are two ways； an expensive and a cheap one；〃 said Niclas； proudly： 〃extra post； or the drag…boat。 The first is for respectable people； the second for those who have nothing； and are nothing。〃
〃Then the last is for us；〃 said the king； laughing。 〃Is it not so； brother Henry？it is best for us to go in the drag…boat。〃
〃That would be best； brother Frederick。〃
〃Have the kindness to call our servant to take the bag； and you； Mr。 Niclas； please give us a guide to show us to the canal。〃
The king took his box and approached the door。
〃And my coffee； and the wine；〃 asked Mrs。 Niclas； just entering with the drinks。
〃We have no time to make use of them； madame；〃 said the king； as he passed her； to leave the room。
But Madame Niclas held him back。
〃No time to make use of them；〃 she cried； 〃but I had to take time to make the coffee； and bring the wine from the cellar。〃
〃Mais； mon Dieu； madame；〃 said the impatient king。
〃Mais； mon Dieu； monsieur； vous croyez que je travaillerai pour le roi de Prusse； c'est…a…dire sans paiement。〃
The king broke out into a hearty laugh； and Balby had to join him； but much against his will。
〃Brother Henry；〃 said the king； laughing； 〃that is a curious way of speaking； 'travailler pour le roi de Prusse；' means here to work for nothing。 I beg you to convince this good woman that she has not worked for the King of Prussia； and pay her well。 Madame； I have the honor to bid you farewell； and be assured it will always cheer me to think of you； and to recall your charming speech。〃
The king laughingly took his friend's arm； and nodded kindly to Madame Niclas as he went down the steps。
〃I tell you what；〃 said Madame Niclas； as she stood at the door with her husband； watching the departing strangers； who； in company with the guide and their servant； were walking down the street that led to the canal〃I tell you I do not trust those strangers； the little one in particular； he had a very suspicious look。〃
〃But his passport was all right。〃
〃But； nevertheless； all is not right with them。 These strangers are disguised princes or robbers； I am fully convinced。〃
CHAPTER XIII。
THE DRAG…BOAT。
What a crowd； what noise； what laughing and chatting！ How bright and happy these people are who have nothing and are nothing！ How gayly they laugh and talk togetherwith what stoical equanimity they regard the slow motion of the boat！ They accept it as an unalterable necessity。 How kindly they assist each other； with what natural politeness the men leave the best seats for the women！
The boat is very much crowded。 There are a great number of those amiable people who are nothing； and have nothing； moving from place to place cheerily。
The men on the shore who； with the aid of ropes； are pulling the boat； those two…legged horses； groan from exertion。 The bagpipe player is making his gayest music； but in vainhe cannot allure the young people to dance； there is no place for dancing； the large deck of the boat is covered with human beings。 Old men； and even women； are obliged to stand； the two long benches running down both sides of the boat are filled。
The king enjoyed the scene immensely。 The free life about him； the entire indifference to his own person； charmed and delighted him。 He leaned against the cabin； by which he was sitting； and regarded the crowd before him。 Suddenly he was touched on the shoulder； and not in the gentlest manner。 Looking up； he met the discontented face of a peasant； who was speaking violently； but in Dutch； and the king did not understand him； he therefore slightly shrugged his shoulders and remained quiet。
The angry peasant continued to gesticulate； and pointed excitedly at the ting and then at a pale young woman who was standing before him； and held two children in her arms。
The king still shrugged his shoulders silently； but when the peasant grasped him for the second time he waved him off； and his eye was so stern that the terrified and astonished peasant stepped back inv