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 kinga 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 himhunger！ 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 this world must obey； and Balby and himself had returned to the hotel to eat and refresh themselves。
〃Now； friend； see that you order something to rejoice and strengthen our humanity；〃 said Frederick； stretching himself comfortably upon the divan。 〃It is a real pleasure to rue to be hungry and partake of a good meala pleasure which the King of Prussia will often envy the Messieurs Zoller。 To be hungry and to eat is one of life's rare enjoyments generally denied to kings； and yet；〃 whispered he； thoughtfully； 〃our whole life is nothing but a never…ceasing hungering and thirsting after happiness； content； and rest。 The world alas！ gives no repose； no satisfying portion。 Brother Henry； let us eat and be joyful； let us even meditate on a good meal as an ardent maiden consecrates her thoughts to a love…poem which she will write in her album in honor of her beloved。 Truly there are fools who in the sublimity of their folly wish to appear indifferent to such earthly pleasures。 declaring that they are necessary evils； most uncomfortable bodily craving； and nothing more。 They are fools who do not understand that eating and drinking is an art； a science； the soul of the soul； the compass of thought and feeling。 Dear Balby； order us a costly meal。 I wish to be gay and free； light… minded and merry…hearted to…day。 In order to promote this we must； before all other things； take care of these earthly bodies and not oppress them with common food。〃
〃We will give them； I hope； the sublimest nourishment which the soil of Holland produces；〃 said Balby； laughing。 〃You are not aware； M。 Frederick Zoller； that we are now in a hotel whose hostess is worshipped； almost glorified； by the good Hollanders。〃
〃And is it this sublime piece of flesh which you propose to place before me？〃 said the king； with assumed horror。 〃Will you satisfy the soul of my soul with this Holland beauty？ I do not share the enthusiasm of the Hollanders。 I shall not worship this woman。 I shall find her coarse； old； and ugly。〃
〃But listen； Zoller。 These good Dutchmen worship her not be cause of her perishable beauty； but because of a famous pie which she alone in Amsterdam knows how to make。〃
〃Ah； that is better。 I begin now to appreciate the Dutchmen； and if the pie is good； I will worship at the same shrine。 Did you not remark； brother Henry； that while you stood carried away by your enthusiasm before Rembrandt's picture of the 'Night Watch'a picture which it grieves me to say I cannot obtain；〃 sighed the king〃 these proud Hollanders call it one of their national treasures； and will not sell itwell； did you not see that I was conversing zealously with three or four of those thick； rubicund； comfortable looking mynheers？ No doubt you thought we were rapturously discussing the glorious paintings before which we stood； and for this the good Hollanders were rolling their eyes in ecstasy。 No； sir； no； sir。 We spoke of a pie！ They recognized me as a stranger； asked me from whence I came； where we lodged； etc。； etc。 And when I mentioned the Black Raven； they went off into ecstatic raptures over the venison pasty of Madame von Blaken。 They then went on to relate that Madame Blaken was renowned throughout all Holland because of this venison pasty of which she alone had the recipe； and which she prepared always alone and with closed doors。 Her portrait is to be seen in all the shop windows； and all the stadtholders dine once a month in the Black Raven to enjoy this pie。 Neither through prayers nor entreaties； commands； or threatenings； has Madame Blaken been induced to give up her recipe or even to go to the castle and prepare the pasty。 She declares that this is the richest possession of the Black Raven； and all who would be so happy as to enjoy it must partake of it at her table。 Balby！ Balby！ hasten my good fellow； and command the venison pastry；〃 said Frederick； eagerly。 〃Ah！ what bliss to lodge in the Black Raven' Waiter； I say！ fly to this exalted woman！〃
Balby rushed out to seek the hostess and have himself announced。
Madame Blaken received him in her boudoir； to which she had withdrawn to rest a little after the labors of the day。 These labors were ever a victory and added to her fame。 There was no better table prepared in Holland than that of the Black Raven。 She was in full toilet； having just left the dinner table where she had presided at the table d'hote as lady of the house； and received with dignity the praise of her guests。 These encomiums still resounded in her ears； and she reclined upon the divan and listened to their pleasing echo。 The door opened and the head waiter announced Mr。 Zoller。 The countenance of Madame Blaken was dark； and she was upon the point of declining to receive him； but it was too late； the daring Zoller had had the boldness to enter just behind the waiter； and he was now making his most reverential bow to the lady。 Madame Blaken returned this greeting with a slight nod of the head； and she regarded the stranger in his cheap and simple toilet with a rather contemptuous smile。 She thought to herself that this ordinary man had surely made a mistake in entering her hotel。 Neither his rank； fortune； nor celebrity could justify his lodging at the Black Raven。 She was resolved to reprove her head waiter for allowing such plain and poor people to enter the best hotel in Amsterdam。
〃Sir；〃 said she； in a cold and cutting tone； 〃you come without doubt to excuse your brother and yourself for not having appeared to…day at my table d'hote。 You certainly know that politeness requires that you should dine in the hotel where you lodge。 Do not distress yourself； however； sir。 I do not feel offended now that I have seen you。 I understand fully why you did not dine with me； but sought your modest meal elsewhere。 The table d'hote in the Black Raven is the most expensive in Amsterdam； and only wealthy people put their feet under my table and enjoy my dishes。〃
While she thus spoke； her glance wandered searchingly over Balby； who did not seem to remark it； or to comprehend her significant words。
〃Madame；〃 said he； 〃allow me to remark that we have not dined。 My brother； whose will is always mine； prefers taking his dinner in his own apartment； where he has more quiet comfort and can better enjoy your rare viands。 He never dines at a table d'hote。 In every direction he has heard of your wonderful pie； and I come in his name to ask that you will be so good as to prepare one for his dinner to… day；〃
Madame Blaken laughed aloud。 〃Truly said； that is not a bad idea of your brother's。 My pasty is celebrated throughout all Holland； and I have generally one ready in case a rich or renowned guest should desire it。 But this pie is not for every man！〃
〃My brother wants it for himselfhimself alone；〃 said Balby； decisively。 Even the proud hostess felt his tone imposing。
〃Sir；〃 said she； after a short pause； 〃forgive me if I speak plainly to you。 You wish to eat one of my renowned pies； and to have it served in a private room； as the General Stadtholder and other high potentates are accustomed to do。 Well； I have this morning a pasty made with truffles and Chinese birds'nests； but you cannot have it！ To be frank； it is enormously dear； and I think neither your brother nor yourself could pay for it！〃
And now it was Balby's turn to laugh aloud； and he did so with the free； unembarrassed gayety of a man who is sure of his position； and is neither confused nor offended。
Madame Blaken was somewhat prov