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do you hear？ I will it； and you； the grand chamberlain； Baron Pollnitz； shall feel my anger if he does not consent。〃
〃And if he does？〃 said Pollnitz； in his laughing； shameless manner； 〃if I persuade the prince to submit to your wishes； what recompense shall I receive？〃
〃On the day of their betrothal； I will raise your income five hundred crowns； and pay your debts。〃
〃Ah； sire； in what a pitiable dilemma you are placing me！ Your majesty wishes Prince Henry to engage himself as soon as possible； and I must now wish it to be as late as possible。〃
〃And why？〃
〃Because I must hasten to make as many debts as possible； that your majesty may pay them。〃
〃You are and will remain an unmitigated fool； old age will not even cure you；〃 said the king； smiling。 〃But speak； do you think my brother may be brought to reason？〃
Pollnitz shrugged his shoulders； gave a sly smile； but was silent。
〃You do not answer me。 Is my brother in love？ and has he confided in you？〃
〃Sire； I believe the prince is in love from ennui alone； but he swears it is his first love。〃
〃That is an oath that is repeated to each lady…love； I am not afraid of it；〃 said the king； smiling 〃Who is the enchantress that has heard his first loving vows？ She is doubtless a fairya goddess of beauty。〃
〃Yes； sire； she is young and beautiful； and declares it is also her first love； so no one can doubt its purity； no one understands love as well as this fair lady； no other than Madame von Kleist； who； as your majesty remembers； was lately divorced from her husband。〃
〃And is now free to love again； as it appears；〃 said the king； with a mocking smile。 〃But the beautiful Louise von Schwerin is a dangerous； daring woman； and we must check her clever plans in the bud。 If she desires to be loved by my brother； she possesses knowledge； beauty； and experience to gain her point and to lead him into all manner of follies。 This affair must be brought quickly to a close； and Prince Henry acknowledged to be the prince royal。〃
〃Prince Henry goes this evening to Berlin to attend a feast given by the Prince of Prussia；〃 whispered Pollnitz。
〃Ah！ it is true the prince's arrest ceases at six o'clock； but he will not forget that he needs permission to leave Potsdam。〃
〃He will forget it； sire。〃
The king walked up and down in silence； and his countenance assumed an angry and threatening appearance。 〃This struggle must be brought to a close； and that speedily。 My brother must submit to my authority。 Go and watch his movements； as soon as he leaves； come to me。〃
Long after Pollnitz had left him； the king paced his chamber in deep thought。 〃Poor Henry！ I dare not sympathize with you； you are a king's sonthat means a slave to your position。 Why has Providence given hearts to kings as to other men？ Why do we thirst so for love？ as the intoxicating drink is always denied us； and we dare not drink it even when offered by the most bewitching enchantress！〃
Involuntarily his eye rested upon the beautiful picture of Barbarina。 But he would have no pity with himself； as he dared not show mercy to his brother。 Seizing the silver bell； he rang it hastily。
〃Take that picture from the wall； and carry it immediately to the inspector； and tell him to hang it in the picture…gallery；〃 said Frederick。
He looked on quietly as the servant took the picture down and carried it from the room； then sighed and gazed long at the plane where it had hung。
〃Empty and cold！ The last token of my youth is gone！ I am now the king； and； with God's blessing； will be the father of my people。〃
CHAPTER II。
PRINCE HENRY。
Prince Henry sat quiet and motionless in his lonely room； dark thoughts seemed to trouble him； his brow was clouded； his lips compressed。 Had you not known him； you would have taken him for the king； so great was the resemblance of the two brothers； but it was only an outward resemblance。 The prince had not the spiritual expression； his eyes had not the passionate fire； his face （beautiful as it was） wanted the fascinating geniality； the sparkling inspiration； that at all times lighted the king's countenance like a sunbeam。
The prince possessed a greater mind； a clearer understanding； but he wanted soul and poetic feeling； and allowed himself at times to ridicule his brother's poetic efforts。 The king； knowing this； was inclined to regard the shortcomings of the prince as a determined contempt and resistance to his command； and as the prince became more reckless and more indifferent； he became more severe and harsh。 Thus the struggle commenced that had existed for some time between the two brothers。
For the last four days the prince had been in arrest for disobeying orders； but the hour of his release was approaching； and he awaited it with impatience。
The bell of the nearest church had just announced the hour of six。 The door opened immediately； and an officer； in the name of the king； pronounced his arrest at an end。
The prince answered with a low bow； and remained seated； pointing haughtily to the door； but as the officer left him he arose and paced hastily to and fro。
〃He treats me like a school…boy；〃 he murmured； 〃but I shall show him that I have a will of my own！ I will not be intimidatedI will not submit； and if the king does not cease to annoy me； if he continues to forget that I am not a slave； but son and brother of a king； no motives shall restrain me； and I also will forget； as he does； that I am a prince； and remember only that I am a free； responsible man。 He wishes me to marry； and therefore has me followed； and surrounds me with spies。 He wishes to force me to marry。 Well； I will marry； but I will choose my own wife！〃
The prince had just made this resolve； when the door opened； and the servant announced that Messrs。 Kalkreuth and Kaphengst awaited his commands。
He bade them enter； and advancing smilingly gave them his hand。
〃Welcome！ welcome！〃 he said； 〃the cage is open； and I may enjoy a little air and sunshine； let us not delay to make use of this opportunity。 Our horses shall be saddled。〃
〃They are already saddled； prince；〃 said Baron Kalkreuth。 〃I have ordered them to the court； and as soon as it is dark we will mount them。〃
〃What！ is it not best that we should mount before my door and ride openly away？〃 said the prince； wonderingly。
〃It is my opinion that is the best plan；〃 cried Baron Kaphengst； laughing gayly。 〃Every one will believe your highness to be simply taking a ride； while curiosity would be raised if we left the city on foot。〃
〃I think leaving in the dark； and on foot； looks as if I were afraid；〃 said the prince； thoughtfully。
〃Secrecy is good for priests and old women； but not for us；〃 cried Kaphengst。
〃Secrecy suits all who wish to do wrong；〃 said Kalkreuth； earnestly。
The prince glanced hastily at him。 〃You believe； then； we are about to do wrong？〃
〃I dare not speak of your highness； but we two are certainly doing wrong； we are about to commit an act of insubordination。 But still； my prince； I am ready to do so； as your highness wishes us to accompany you。〃
The prince did not answer； but stepped to the window； and looked out thoughtfully and silently。 In a few moments he returned； looking calm and resolute。
〃Kalkreuth is rightwe were going to do wrong； and we must avoid it。 I shall write to the king； and ask leave for you and myself to go to Berlin。〃
〃That is； unfortunately； impossible；〃 said a sweet voice behind him； and as the prince turned he saw the smiling face of Pollnitz。 〃I beg pardon； your highness； for having entered unannounced； but you allowed me to come at this hour and give you an account of the commissions you gave me。〃
〃Why do you say it is impossible to obtain leave of the king today？〃 asked Henry； hastily。
〃Because his majesty is already in the concert…saloon； and your highness knows that he has strictly forbidden any one to disturb him there。〃
〃We shall； then； have to give up our plan and remain here；〃 said the prince。
Kaphengst glanced angrily and threateningly at his friend。
〃And why should your highness do this？〃 asked Pollnitz； astonished。 〃All your preparations are made； all your commands fulfilled。 I have procured your costumes； no on