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nd servants the betrayers of their teachers and employers。 If your majesty will permit me to undermine the confidence of man to his fellow…manof the brother to his sisterof the parents to their childrenof the husbands to their wives by buying their secrets from themif I may reward such treachery； then； your majesty； we can have such a police as De Sartines has in Paris。 But I do not think that it will promote propriety or prevent crime。〃
The king had listened to him with increasing interest； his brow growing clearer and clearer as the bold speaker continued。 When he finished； the king ceased his walk； and stood motionless before him； looking fully into his excited countenance。
〃It is； then； your positive conviction that a secret police brings with it those evils you have depicted？〃
〃Yes； your majesty； it is my positive conviction。〃
〃He may be right；〃 said the king； thoughtfully。 〃Nothing demoralizes men so much as spies and denunciations； and a good government should punish and not reward the miserable spies who betray their fellow… creatures for gold with the wicked intention of bringing them into misfortune。 A good government should not follow the Jesuits' rule 'That the end consecrates the means。'〃
〃Will your majesty； then； graciously allow me to dispense with a secret police？〃
〃Well； yes。 We will remain as we are； and De Sartines may keep his secret police。 It would not suit us； and Berlin shall not be still further demoralized by spies and betrayers。 Therefore； no more of the secret police。 When crime shows itself by day we will punish it。 We will leave it to Providence to bring it to light。 Continue to report to me； therefore； who has died and who has been born； who have arrived and who have departed； who has stolen and who has done a good business。 I am well pleased with youyou have spoken freely and bravely； and said openly what you thought。 That pleases me； I am pleased when my agents have the courage to speak the truth； and dare occasionally to oppose me。 I hope you will retain this virtue。〃
He bowed pleasantly to the prefect； and offered him his hand。 He then dismissed him； and ordered the ministers to enter with their reports and proposals。 After these came the council； and only after the king had worked with them uninterruptedly for three hours； did he think of taking some repose from all this work； which had occupied him from six o'clock in the morning until nearly twelve。 He was on the point of entering his library as loud voices in the anteroom arrested his attention。
〃But I tell you that the king gives no audiences to…day；〃 he heard one of the servants say。
〃The king has said that every man who wishes to speak to him shall be admitted！〃 exclaimed another voice。 〃I must speak to the king； and he must hear me。〃
〃If you must speak to him； you must arrange it by writing。 The king grants an audience to all who demand it； but he fixes the hour himself。〃
〃Misery and despair cannot await a fixed hour！〃 cried the other。 〃If the king will not listen to unhappiness when it calls to him for redress； but waits until it pleases him to hear； he is not a good king。〃
〃The man is right；〃 said the king； 〃I will listen to him immediately。〃
He hastily advanced to the door and opened it。 Without stood an old man； poorly dressed； with a pale； thin face； from whose features despair and sorrow spoke plainly enough to be understood by all。 When his great； sunken eyes fell upon the king； he cried； joyfully； 〃God be thanked； there is the king！〃 The king motioned to him to approach； and the old man sprang forward with a cry of delight。
〃Come into the room；〃 said the king； 〃and now tell me what you wish from me？〃
〃Justice； your majesty； nothing but justice。 I have been through the war； and I am without bread。 I have nothing to live upon； and I have twice petitioned your majesty for a situation which is now vacant。〃
〃And I refused it to you； because I had promised it to another。〃
〃They told me that your majesty would refuse me this situation。〃 cried the man； despairingly。 〃But I cannot believe it； for your majesty owes it to me； and you are usually a just king。 Hasten； your majesty； to perform your duty； and justify yourself from a suspicion which is unworthy of your kingly fame。〃
The king measured him with a flashing glance； which the pale； despairing suppliant bore with bold composure。
〃By what authority；〃 asked the king； in a thundering voice； as he approached the man； with his arm raised threateningly〃by what authority do you dare speak to me in such a tone？ and on what do you ground your shameless demands？〃
〃On this； your majesty； that I must starve if you refuse my request。 That is the most sacred of all claims； and to whom on earth dare I turn with it if not to my king？〃
There lay in these words a sorrow so heart…breaking； a plaint so despairing in the voice； that the king was involuntarily much moved。 He let fall his uplifted arm； and the expression of his countenance became gentle and tender。
〃I see that you are very unhappy and despairing；〃 he said； kindly； 〃you were right to come to me。 You shall have the place for which you asked。 I will arrange it。 Come here to…morrow to the Councillor Muller。 I will give you some money； that you may not starve until then。〃
He silenced the delighted man's expressions of gratitude； and ringing his bell he summoned Deesen； who kept his purse； in order to give the man a gold piece。 But Deesen did not appear； and the second chamberlain announced in an embarrassed manner that lie was not in the palace。 The king commanded him to give the man the promised gold piece and then to return to him。
〃Where is Deesen？〃 asked the king； as the chamberlain returned。
〃Sire； I do not know；〃 he stammered； his eyes sinking beneath the piercing glance of the king。
〃You do know！〃 said the king； gravely。 〃Deesen has positive orders from me to remain in the anteroom； because I might need him。 If he dares to disobey my orders； he must have a powerful reason； and you know it。 Out with it！ I will know it。〃
〃If your majesty commands； I must speak；〃 said the chamberlain； sighing。 〃Your majesty will not permit us to be married； but we were made with hearts； and we sometimes fall in love。〃
〃Deesen is in love； then？〃 said the king。
〃Yes； your majesty； he loves a beautiful girl in Potsdam； whose name is Maria Siegert。 And although he cannot marry her； she has consented to be his beloved。 And as to…day was the great report day； Deesen thought that your majesty would not need him； and that he had time to go to Potsdam to visit his sweetheart。 He seems to have been delayed。 That is the reason； your majesty； that Deesen is not in the anteroom。〃
〃Very well；〃 said the king； 〃as soon as Deesen returns he must come to my library。 I forbid you； however； to repeat one word of this conversation。〃
〃Ah； your majesty； I am well pleased that I need not do it； for Deesen is very passionate； and if he learns that I have betrayed his secret he is capable of giving me a box on the ear。〃
〃Which would； perhaps； be very wholesome for you；〃 said the king； as he turned toward his library。
A quarter of an hour later； Deesen entered the library with a heated； a