The young man slunk away to the door, but stood without opening it,
his head down, and his under-lip hanging out.

"What is the matter?" asked the king, in a milder tone, "why do you
not go, Kretzschmar?"

"I cannot go away if your majesty is angry with me," muttered the
servant, insolently. "I do not wish to hear or see any thing more
for you when your majesty abuses me, and considers me such a mean,
base fellow. Your majesty first commanded me to listen, and spy, and
now that I am obeying, I am despised and scolded for it. I will have
nothing more to do with it, and I wish your majesty to leave me a
simple footman rather than to accord me such a mean position."

"I did not mean so badly," said the king. "I mean well enough for
you; but you must not permit yourself to be arrogant or
disrespectful, otherwise you may go to Tophet! You are no common
spy, you are listening about a little because you know I am fond of
hearing what the people are saying, and what is going on in Berlin
and Potsdam. But take care that they know nothing about it,
otherwise they will be careful, and you will hear nothing. Now be
off, and in order to see a cheerful face on you, I will make you a
present." The king drew from his vest-pocket a purse, well filled
with small coin, and gave it to the young man, who took it, though
he still looked angry and insolent. "Do not let your under-lip hang
down so, for I may step upon it," said the king. "Put the money in
your pocket, and hurry off to tell old Pfund to harness quickly, or
I shall not arrive in time at the park."

"There is no danger, your majesty, for the miss seems very fond of