of Von Eckert, who fairly trembled with suppressed rage, was
sufficient to renew his merriment.

While the king was conversing with Von Eckert on the subject of his
new house, Pollnitz turned to his neighbor and asked if he had not
made ample amends for his awkwardness in the first instance.

"By my thoughtless repetition of that hypocritical man's words, I
procured him the new house, but I have also given him a coat-of-
arms; and I wager the privy councillor would willingly relinquish
the former, if he could thereby get rid of the latter."

"Pollnitz, why are you looking so grave" asked the king at this
moment. "I wager you are in a bad humor, because the handsome house
in Jager Street was not given to you."

"By no means, your majesty; as handsome as the house is, it would
not suit me at all."

"Ah, yes, you are right; it would be much too large a one for you!"
said Frederick William, laughing.

"No, your majesty, it would be much too small for me. When a
cavalier of my quality once determines to build a house, it should
be arranged in accordance with his rank and standing, and that costs
a great deal of money, much more than I ever possessed. It is true
that my father left me a fortune of about two hundred thousand
dollars, but what is such a trifle to a nobleman? It was not enough
for a decent support, and it was too much to go begging on. I
calculated how long this sum might be made to last, and finding