"At your service, your majesty, since 1775."

"A tolerably long time," said the king--"long enough to make a
savant of a child of Nature. You have been faithful, and I am
satisfied. The copybooks which you sent me according to my orders
are satisfactory. I wished to acquaint you myself of my
satisfaction, therefore I sent for you."

"Your majesty is very condescending," said the tutor, and his sharp,
angular face brightened a little. "I am very happy in the gracious
satisfaction of your royal highness. I wished also to make known to
you personally my wishes in regard to the petition for the little
prince's pocket-money; he should learn the use of money."

"Very well," said the king, nodding to the prince, who stood behind
the tutor, holding up triumphantly the shuttle cock.

Yet, the most difficult feat remained to be accomplished. The
battledoor was in the very depths of the pocket; only the point of
the handle was visible.

"Your majesty," cried Herr Behnisch, who had taken the approving
exclamation of "very well" to himself--"your majesty, I am very
happy that you have the grace to approve of my petition for pocket-
money."

"Yes, I think it well," said the king, "that the prince should learn
not to throw money out of the window. I will send you, monthly, for
the prince, two Fredericks d'or, and, before you hand it over to
him, change it into small pieces, that there may be a great pile of