frederick the great and his family-第19节

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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