"Your majesty," cried the baron, amazed, "has your highness
dismissed me?"

"Are you deaf, or have you some of the cotton in your ears which I
presented to you at your recall from Copenhagen?" replied the king.
[Footnote: Baron von Arnim was ambassador to Copenhagen until 1754,
when he begged for his recall, stating that the damp climate was
injurious to his health. The king granted his request, and the baron
returned to Berlin. At the first audience with the king, Frederick
handed Baron von Arnim a carefully-packed box, saying, "I do not
wish the government to lose so valuable a servant; in this box you
will find something that will keep you warm." Arnim could scarcely
await his return home, to open the box; it contained nothing but
cotton. Some days afterward, however, the king increased Von Arnim's
income a thousand dollars, and sent him ambassador to Dresden. Von
Arnim was afterward director of the Royal Theatre until dismissed in
the above manner.]

"Sire, I have heard all, but I cannot believe it."

"Yes, yes," interrupted the king, "To believe is difficult; you, I
presume, never belonged to the pious and believing. Your intrigues
would not admit of it; but now you have the leisure to pursue them
with a right good-will. You have only to discharge, as I have said,
the entire French troupe, and the whole thing is done with.--Adieu,
Arnim, may you be prospered!"

Baron von Arnim muttered some incomprehensible words, and retreated
from the royal presence. The door had scarcely closed, when it was