Frederick the Great and His Family [40]
trying in vain to put it in his mouth.
The king had not observed this; he had forgotten that kings and princes only have the right to carry on a conversation wholly with questions, and that it did not become Mr. Zoller to be so inquisitive.
"What brought you here?" he asked, hastily.
"To complete my studies, sir," and, with a clouded brow, the stranger laid his fork and pie upon his plate.
But the king's questions flowed on in a continued stream.
"Do you propose to remain here?"
"I believe not, or rather I do not yet know," answered the stranger, with a sarcastic smile, that brought Balby to desperation.
"Are not the various forms of government of Switzerland somewhat confusing in a political point of view?"
"No, for all know that the cantons are free, as they should be."
"Does that not lead to skepticism and indifference?"
The stranger's patience was exhausted; without answering the king, he pushed back his plate and arose from the table.
"Sir, allow me to say that, in consideration of a piece of pie, which you will not even give me time to eat, you ask too many questions."
"You are right, and I beg your pardon," said the king, as he smilingly nodded at Balby to remain quiet. "We travel to improve ourselves, but you have just cause of complaint. I will give you time to eat your piece of pie. Eat, therefore, monsieur, and when you have finished, if it is agreeable, we will chat awhile longer."
When the stranger arose to depart, after an animated and interesting conversation, the king offered him his hand.
"Give me your address," he said, "that is, I beg of you to do so. You say you have not yet chosen a profession; perhaps I may have the opportunity of being useful to you."
The Swiss gave him his card, with many thanks, and returned to the deck.
The king gazed thoughtfully after him.
"That man pleases me, and when I am no longer a poor musician, I shall call him to my side.--Well, brother Henry, what do you think of this man, who, as I see, is named Mr. Le Catt?"
"I find him rather curt," said Balby, "and he appears to be a great republican."
"You mean because he hates princes, and was somewhat rude to me. Concerning the first, you must excuse it in a republican, and I confess that were I in his place I would probably do the same as to the last, he was right to give Mr. Zoller a lesson in manners. Poor Zoller is not yet acquainted with the customs of the common world, and makes all manner of mistakes against bon ton. I believe to-day is not the first time he has been reproved for want of manners."
"Mr. Zoller is every inch a king," said Balby, laughing.
[NOTE.--The king's conversation with Mr. Le Catt is historical (see Thiebault, vol. 1., p. 218). The king did not forget his travelling adventure, but on his return to Prussia, called Le Catt to court and gave him the position of lecturer, and for twenty years he enjoyed the favor and confidence of the king.]
CHAPTER XIV
IN AMSTERDAM.
Wearied, indeed utterly exhausted, the king and Balby returned to the hotel of the Black Raven, at that time the most celebrated in Amsterdam. They had been wandering about the entire day, examining with never-ceasing interest and delight the treasures of art which the rich patricians of Amsterdam had collected in their princely homes and the public museums. No one supposed that this small man in the brown coat, with dusty shoes and coarse, unadorned hat, could be a king--a king whose fame resounded throughout the whole of Europe. Frederick had enjoyed the great happiness of pursuing his journey and his studies unnoticed and unknown. He had many amusing and romantic adventures; and the joy of being an independent man, of which he had heretofore only dreamed, he was now realizing fully.
The king was compelled now to confess that his freedom and manhood were completely overcome. Hunger had conquered him--hunger! the earthly enemy of all great ideas and exalted feelings. The king was hungry! He was obliged to yield to that physical power which even the rulers of
The king had not observed this; he had forgotten that kings and princes only have the right to carry on a conversation wholly with questions, and that it did not become Mr. Zoller to be so inquisitive.
"What brought you here?" he asked, hastily.
"To complete my studies, sir," and, with a clouded brow, the stranger laid his fork and pie upon his plate.
But the king's questions flowed on in a continued stream.
"Do you propose to remain here?"
"I believe not, or rather I do not yet know," answered the stranger, with a sarcastic smile, that brought Balby to desperation.
"Are not the various forms of government of Switzerland somewhat confusing in a political point of view?"
"No, for all know that the cantons are free, as they should be."
"Does that not lead to skepticism and indifference?"
The stranger's patience was exhausted; without answering the king, he pushed back his plate and arose from the table.
"Sir, allow me to say that, in consideration of a piece of pie, which you will not even give me time to eat, you ask too many questions."
"You are right, and I beg your pardon," said the king, as he smilingly nodded at Balby to remain quiet. "We travel to improve ourselves, but you have just cause of complaint. I will give you time to eat your piece of pie. Eat, therefore, monsieur, and when you have finished, if it is agreeable, we will chat awhile longer."
When the stranger arose to depart, after an animated and interesting conversation, the king offered him his hand.
"Give me your address," he said, "that is, I beg of you to do so. You say you have not yet chosen a profession; perhaps I may have the opportunity of being useful to you."
The Swiss gave him his card, with many thanks, and returned to the deck.
The king gazed thoughtfully after him.
"That man pleases me, and when I am no longer a poor musician, I shall call him to my side.--Well, brother Henry, what do you think of this man, who, as I see, is named Mr. Le Catt?"
"I find him rather curt," said Balby, "and he appears to be a great republican."
"You mean because he hates princes, and was somewhat rude to me. Concerning the first, you must excuse it in a republican, and I confess that were I in his place I would probably do the same as to the last, he was right to give Mr. Zoller a lesson in manners. Poor Zoller is not yet acquainted with the customs of the common world, and makes all manner of mistakes against bon ton. I believe to-day is not the first time he has been reproved for want of manners."
"Mr. Zoller is every inch a king," said Balby, laughing.
[NOTE.--The king's conversation with Mr. Le Catt is historical (see Thiebault, vol. 1., p. 218). The king did not forget his travelling adventure, but on his return to Prussia, called Le Catt to court and gave him the position of lecturer, and for twenty years he enjoyed the favor and confidence of the king.]
CHAPTER XIV
IN AMSTERDAM.
Wearied, indeed utterly exhausted, the king and Balby returned to the hotel of the Black Raven, at that time the most celebrated in Amsterdam. They had been wandering about the entire day, examining with never-ceasing interest and delight the treasures of art which the rich patricians of Amsterdam had collected in their princely homes and the public museums. No one supposed that this small man in the brown coat, with dusty shoes and coarse, unadorned hat, could be a king--a king whose fame resounded throughout the whole of Europe. Frederick had enjoyed the great happiness of pursuing his journey and his studies unnoticed and unknown. He had many amusing and romantic adventures; and the joy of being an independent man, of which he had heretofore only dreamed, he was now realizing fully.
The king was compelled now to confess that his freedom and manhood were completely overcome. Hunger had conquered him--hunger! the earthly enemy of all great ideas and exalted feelings. The king was hungry! He was obliged to yield to that physical power which even the rulers of