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Madame Niclas left； and the gentlemen were once more alone。
〃Now； what shall we do？〃 said the king； smilingly。 〃I believe there is danger of our wonderful trip falling through。〃
〃It is only necessary for your majesty to make yourself known to the postmaster；〃 said Colonel Balby。
〃And if he will not believe me； this fripon who declares that no one could tell by my appearance whether I was a rascal or not； this dull…eyed simpleton； who will not see the royal mark upon my brow； which my courtiers see so plainly written there？ No； no； my friend； that is not the way。 We have undertaken to travel as ordinary men we must now see how common men get through the world。 It is necessary to show the police that we are at least honest men。 Happily； I believe I have the means to do so at hand。 Open our ominous bag； friend Balby； I think you will discover my portfolio； and in it a few blank passes； and my state seal。〃
Colonel Balby did as the king ordered； and drew from the bag the portfolio； with its precious contents。
The king bade Balby sit down and fill up the blanks at his dictation。
The pass was drawn up for the two brothers； Frederick and Henry Zoller； accompanied by their servant； with the intention of travelling through Holland。
The king placed his signature under this important document。
〃Now； it is only necessary to put the state seal under it； and we shall be free； but how will we get a light？〃
〃I cannot tell who is a rascal； you may be one for aught I know。〃
Balby uttered an angry exclamation and stepped nearer to the daring postmaster； while his servant shook his fist threateningly at Niclas。
The king dispelled their anger with a single glance。
〃Sir；〃 he said to Niclas； 〃God made my face； and it is not my fault if it does not please you； but concerning our passports； they are lying well preserved in my carpet…bag。 I should think that would suffice you。〃
〃No； that does not suffice me；〃 screamed Niclas。 〃Show me your passports if I am to believe that you are not vagabonds。〃
〃You dare to call us vagabonds？〃 cried the king； whose patience now also appeared exhausted； and whose clear brow was slightly clouded。
〃The police consider everyone criminal until he has proved he is not so；〃 said Niclas； emphatically。
The king's anger was already subdued。
〃In the eyes of the police； criminality is then the normal condition of mankind；〃 he said； smilingly。
〃Sir； you have no right to question the police so pointedly；〃 said Niclas； sternly。 〃You are here to be questioned； and not to question。〃
The king laughingly arrested the uplifted arm of his companion。
〃Mon Dieu；〃 he murmured； 〃do you not see that this is amusing me highly？ Ask； sir； I am ready to answer。〃
〃Have you a pass？〃
〃Yes； sir。〃
〃Then give it to me to vise。〃
〃To do so； I should have to open my bag； and that would be very inconvenient； but； if the law absolutely demands it； I will do it。〃
〃The law demands it。〃
The king motioned to his servant； and ordered him to carry the bag into the house。
〃Why this delaywhy this unnecessary loss of time？〃 asked Niclas。 〃The postilion can wait no longer。 If he arrives too late at the next station； he will be fined。〃
〃I will not wait another minute；〃 cried the postilion； determinately。 〃get in； or I shall start without you。〃
〃Show me your passports； and then get in；〃 cried Niclas。
The strangers appeared confused and undecided。 Niclas looked triumphantly at his immense crowd of listeners； who were gazing at him with amazement； awaiting in breathless stillness the unravelling of this scene。
〃Get in； or I shall start；〃 repeated the postilion。
〃Give me your passports； or I will not let you go！〃 screamed 〃We can demand them if we wish to do so。〃
〃And why do you wish it now？〃 said the same voice。
〃I wish it simply because I wish it；〃 was the reply。
A stern face now appeared at the door； looking angrily at the postmaster。
〃Think what you say； sir； and be respectful。〃
〃Silence！〃 interrupted the one who had first spoken。 〃Do not let us make an unnecessary disturbance； mon ami。 Why do you wish to see our passports； sir？〃
〃Why？〃 asked Niclas； who was proud to play so distinguished a part before his comrades〃you wish to know why I desire to see your passports？ Well； then； because you appear to me to be suspicious characters。〃
A gay laugh was heard from the stage。 〃Why do you suspect us？〃
〃Because I never trust people travelling without baggage；〃 was the laconic reply。
〃Bravo！ well answered；〃 cried the crowd； and even Madame Niclas was surprised to see her husband show such daring courage。
〃We need no baggage。 We are travelling musicians； going to Amsterdam。〃
〃Travelling musicians All the more reason for mistrusting you； no good was ever heard of wandering musicians。〃
〃You are becoming impertinent； sir；〃 and Balby； the tallest and youngest of the two friends； sprang from the stage； while the servant swung himself from the box； where he was sitting with the postilion； and with an enraged countenance placed himself beside his master。
〃If you dare to speak another insulting word； you are lost；〃 cried Balby。
A hand was laid on his shoulder； and a voice murmured in his ear：
〃Do not compromise us。〃
The king now also left the stage； and tried to subdue the anger of his companion。
〃Pardon； sir； the violence of my friend；〃 said the king； with an ironical smile； as he bowed to the postmaster。 〃We are not accustomed to being questioned and suspected in this manner； and I can assure you that； although we are travelling musicians； as it pleased you to say； we are honest people； and have played before kings and queens。〃
〃If you are honest； show me your passports； no honest man travels without one！〃
〃It appears to me that no rascal should travel without one；〃 said the king。 〃I will obtain one immediately；〃 said Balby； hastening to the door。
The king held him back。 〃My brother； you are very innocent and thoughtless。 You forget entirely that we are suspected criminals。 Should we demand a light； and immediately appear with our passes； do you not believe that this dragon of a postmaster would immediately think that we had written them ourselves； and put a forged seal under them？〃
〃How； then； are we to get a light？〃 said Balby； confused。
The king thought a moment； then laughed gayly。
〃I have found a way；〃 he said； 〃go down into the dining…room； where I noticed an eternal lamp burning； not to do honor to the Mother of God； but to smokers； light your cigar and bring it here。 I will light the sealing…wax by it； and we will have the advantage of drowning the smell of the wax with the smoke。〃
Balby flew away； and soon returned with the burning cigar； the king lit the sealing…wax； and put the seal under the passport。
〃This will proclaim us free from all crime。 Now； brother Henry； call the worthy postmaster。〃
When Niclas received the passport from the king's hand his countenance cleared； and he made the two gentlemen a graceful bow； and begged them to excuse the severity that his duty made necessary。
〃We have now entirely convinced you that we are honest people；〃 said the king； smiling； 〃and you will forgive us that w