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dinner table where she had presided at the table d'hote as lady of the house； and received with dignity the praise of her guests。 These encomiums still resounded in her ears； and she reclined upon the divan and listened to their pleasing echo。 The door opened and the head waiter announced Mr。 Zoller。 The countenance of Madame Blaken was dark； and she was upon the point of declining to receive him； but it was too late； the daring Zoller had had the boldness to enter just behind the waiter； and he was now making his most reverential bow to the lady。 Madame Blaken returned this greeting with a slight nod of the head； and she regarded the stranger in his cheap and simple toilet with a rather contemptuous smile。 She thought to herself that this ordinary man had surely made a mistake in entering her hotel。 Neither his rank； fortune； nor celebrity could justify his lodging at the Black Raven。 She was resolved to reprove her head waiter for allowing such plain and poor people to enter the best hotel in Amsterdam。
〃Sir；〃 said she； in a cold and cutting tone； 〃you come without doubt to excuse your brother and yourself for not having appeared to…day at my table d'hote。 You certainly know that politeness requires that you should dine in the hotel where you lodge。 Do not distress yourself； however； sir。 I do not feel offended now that I have seen you。 I understand fully why you did not dine with me； but sought your modest meal elsewhere。 The table d'hote in the Black Raven is the most expensive in Amsterdam； and only wealthy people put their feet under my table and enjoy my dishes。〃
While she thus spoke； her glance wandered searchingly over Balby； who did not seem to remark it； or to comprehend her significant words。
〃Madame；〃 said he； 〃allow me to remark that we have not dined。 My brother； whose will is always mine； prefers taking his dinner in his own apartment； where he has more quiet comfort and can better enjoy your rare viands。 He never dines at a table d'hote。 In every direction he has heard of your wonderful pie； and I come in his name to ask that you will be so good as to prepare one for his dinner to… day；〃
Madame Blaken laughed aloud。 〃Truly said； that is not a bad idea of your brother's。 My pasty is celebrated throughout all Holland； and I have generally one ready in case a rich or renowned guest should desire it。 But this pie is not for every man！〃
〃My brother wants it for himselfhimself alone；〃 said Balby； decisively。 Even the proud hostess felt his tone imposing。
〃Sir；〃 said she； after a short pause； 〃forgive me if I speak plainly to you。 You wish to eat one of my renowned pies； and to have it served in a private room； as the General Stadtholder and other high potentates are accustomed to do。 Well； I have this morning a pasty made with truffles and Chinese birds'nests； but you cannot have it！ To be frank； it is enormously dear； and I think neither your brother nor yourself could pay for it！〃
And now it was Balby's turn to laugh aloud； and he did so with the free； unembarrassed gayety of a man who is sure of his position； and is neither confused nor offended。
Madame Blaken was somewhat provoked by this unrestrained merriment。 〃You laugh； sir； but I have good reason for supposing you to be poor and unknown。 You came covered with dust and on foot to my hotel； accompanied by one servant carrying a small carpet…bag。 You have neither equipage； retinue； nor baggage。 You receive no visits； and； as it appears； make none。 You are always dressed in your simple； modest； rather forlorn…looking brown coats。 You have never taken a dinner here； but pass the day abroad； and when you return in the evening you ask for a cup of tea and a few slices of bread and butter。 Rich people do not travel in this style； and I therefore have the right to ask if you can afford to pay for my pasty？ I do not know who or what you are； nor your brother's position In the world。〃
〃Oh；〃 cried Balby who was highly amused by the candor of the hostess； 〃my brother has a most distinguished position； I assure youhis fame resounds throughout Germany。〃
〃Bah I〃 said Madame Blaken； shrugging her shoulders； 〃the name is entirely unknown to us。 Pray； what is your brother； and for what is he celebrated？〃
〃For his flute；〃 answered Balby； with solemn gravity。 Madame Blaken rose and glanced scornfully at Balby。 〃Are you mating sport of me； sir？〃 said she； threateningly。
〃Not in the least； madame； I am telling you an important truth。 My brother is a renowned virtuoso。〃
〃A virtuoso？〃 repeated the hostess； 〃I do not understand the word。 Pray； what is a virtuoso？〃
〃A virtuoso； madame； is a musician who makes such music as no other man can make。 He gives concerts； and sells the tickets for an enormous price； and the world rushes to hear his music。 I assure you； madame； my brother can play so enchantingly that those who hear his flute are forced to dance in spite of themselves。 He receives large sums of gold； and if he gives a concert here you will see that all your distinguished people will flock to hear him。 You can set your pasty before him without fearhe is able to pay richly for it。〃
Madame Blaken rose without a word and advanced toward the door。 〃Come； sir； come。 I am going to your brother。〃 Without waiting for an answer； she stepped through the corridor and tapped lightly at the stranger's door。 She was on the point of opening it； but Balby caught her hand hastily。
〃Madame；〃 said he； 〃allow me to enter and inquire if you can be received。〃 He wished to draw her back from the door； but the hostess of the Black Raven was not the woman to be withdrawn。
〃You wish to ask if I can enter？〃 repeated she。 〃I may well claim that privilege in my own house。〃
With a determined hand she knocked once more upon the door； opened it immediately and entered； followed by Balby； who by signs endeavored to explain and beg pardon for the intrusion。
Frederick did not regard him； his blue eyes were fixed upon the woman who； with laughing good…humor； stepped up to him and held out both of her large； course hands in greeting。
〃Sir； I come to convince myself if what your brother said was true。〃
〃Well； madame； what has my brother said？〃
〃He declares that yon can whistle splendidly； and all the world is forced to dance after your music。〃
〃I said play the flute； madame！ I said play the flute！〃 cried Balby； horrified。 〃Well； flute or whistle；〃 said Madame Blaken； proudly； 〃it's the same thing。 Be so good； sir； as to whistle me something； I will then decide as to the pasty。〃 The king looked at Balby curiously。 〃Will you have the goodness； brother； to explain madame's meaning； and what she requires of me？〃
〃Allow me to explain myself； 〃said the hostess。 〃This gentle…man came and ordered a rich pie for you； this pasty has given celebrity to my house。 It is true I have one prepared； but I would not send it to you。 Would you know why？ This is an enormously expensive dish； and I have no reason to believe that you are in a condition to pay for it。 I said this to your brother； and I might with truth have told him that I regretted to see him in my hotelnot that you are in yourselves objectionable； on the contrary； you appear to me to be harmless and amiable men； but because of your purses。 I fear that you do not know the charges of first…class hotels； and will be amazed at your bill。 Your brother； however； assures me that you can afford to pay for all you order； that you make a great deal of money； that you are a virtuoso； give concerts； and sell tickets at the highest price。 Now； I will convince myself if you are a great musician and can support yourself。 Whistle me something； and I will decide as to the pie。〃
The king listened to all this with suppressed merriment； and gave Balby a significant look。
〃Bring my flute； brother； I will convince madame that I am indeed a virtuoso。〃
〃Let us hear；〃 said Madame Blaken； seating herself upon the sofa from which the king had just arisen。
Frederick made； with indescribable solemnity； a profound bow to the hostess。 He placed the flute to his lips and began to play； but not in his accustomed masterly stylenot in those mild； floating melodies； those solemn sacred； and exalted strains which it was his custom