rs。　The　dealers　appreciated　the　difference　between　idle　enthusiasm　and　well…filled　purses。
  The　king　understood　this　well；　and　on　leaving　the　house　of　the　last　rich　merchant　he　breathed　more　freely；　and　said：
  〃I　am　glad　that　is　over。　The　rudeness　of　the　postmaster　at　Grave　pleased　me　better　than　the　civilities　of　these　people。　Come；　Balby；　we　have　bought　pictures　enough；　now　we　will　only　admire　them；　enjoy　without　appropriating　them。　The　rich　banker；　Abramson；　is　said　to　have　a　beautiful　collection；　we　will　examine　them；　and　then　have　our　draft　cashed。〃
  The　banker's　splendid　house　was　soon　found；　and　the　brothers　entered　the　house　boldly；　and　demanded　of　the　richly…dressed；　liveried　servant　to　be　conducted　to　the　gallery。
  〃This　is　not　the　regular　day；〃　said　the　servant；　with　a　contemptuous　shrug　of　the　shoulders；　as　he　measured　the　two　strangers。
  〃Not　the　day！　What　day？〃　asked　the　king；　sharply。
  〃Not　the　day　of　general　exhibition。　You　must　wait　until　next　Tuesday。〃
  〃Impossible；　we　leave　to…morrow。　Go　to　your　master　and　tell　him　two　strangers　wish　to　see　his　gallery；　and　beg　it　may　be　opened　for　them。〃
  There　was　something　so　haughty　and　irresistible　in　the　stranger's　manner；　that　the　servant　not　daring　to　refuse；　and　still　astonished　at　his　own　compliance；　went　to　inform　his　master　of　the　request。　He　returned　in　a　few　moments；　and　announced　that　his　master　would　come　himself　to　receive　them。
  The　door　opened　immediately；　and　Mr。　Abramson　stepped　into　the　hall；　his　face；　bright　and　friendly；　darkened　when　his　black　eyes　fell　upon　the　two　strangers　standing　in　the　hall。
  〃You　desired　to　speak　to　me；〃　he　said；　in　the　arrogant　tone　that　the　rich　Jews　are　accustomed　to　use　when　speaking　to　unknown　and　poor　people。　〃What　is　your　wish；　sirs？〃
  The　king's　brow　darkened；　and　he　looked　angrily　at　the　supercilious　man　of　fortune；　who　was　standing　opposite　him；　with　his　head　proudly　thrown　back；　and　his　hands　in　his　pockets。　But　Frederick's　countenance　soon　cleared；　and　he　said；　with　perfect　composure：
  〃We　wish　you　to　show　us　your　picture…gallery；　sir。〃
  The　tone　in　which　he　spoke　was　less　pleading　than　commanding；　and　roused　the　anger　of　the　easily　enraged　parvenu。
  〃Sir；　I　have　a　picture…gallery；　arranged　for　my　own　pleasure　and　paid　for　with　my　own　money。　I　am　very　willing　to　show　it　to　all　who　have　not　the　money　to　purchase　pictures　for　themselves；　and　to　satisfy　the　curiosity　of　strangers；　I　have　set　aside　a　day　in　each　week　on　which　to　exhibit　my　gallery。〃
  〃You　mean；　then；　sir；　that　you　will　not　allow　us　to　enter　your　museum？〃　said　the　king；　smilingly；　and　laying　his　hand　at　the　same　time　softly　on　Balby's　arm；　to　prevent　him　from　speaking。
  〃I　mean　that　my　museum　is　closed；　and〃
  A　carriage　rolled　thunderingly　to　the　door；　the　outer　doors　of　the　hall　were　hastily　opened；　a　liveried　servant　entered；　and　stepping　immediately　to　Mr。　Abramson；　he　said：
  〃Lord　Middlestone；　of　Loudon；　asks　the　honor　of　seeing　your　gallery。〃
  The　countenance　of　the　Jewish　banker　beamed　with　delight。
  〃Will　his　excellency　have　the　graciousness　to　enter？　I　consider　it　an　honor　to　show　him　my　poor　treasures。　My　gallery　is　closed　to…day；　but　for　Lord　Middlestone；　I　will　open　it　gladly。〃
  His　contemptuous　glance　met　the　two　poor　musicians；　who　had　stepped　aside；　and　were　silent　witnesses　of　this　scene。
  The　outer　doors　of　the　court　were　opened　noisily；　and　a　small；　shrivelled　human　form；　assisted　by　two　servants；　staggered　into　the　hall。　It　was　an　old　man；　wrapped　in　furs；　this　was　his　excellency　Lord　Middlestone。　Mr。　Abramson　met　him　with　a　profound　bow；　and　sprang　forward　to　the　door　that　led　to　the　gallery。
  Every　eye　was　fixed　upon　this　sad　picture　of　earthly　pomp　and　greatness；　all　felt　the　honor　to　the　house　of　Mr。　Abramson。　Lord　Middlestone；　the　ambassador　of　the　King　of　England；　desired　to　see　his　collection。　This　was　an　acknowledgment　of　merit　that　delighted　the　heart　of　the　banker；　and　added　a　new　splendor　to　his　house。
  While　the　door　was　being　opened　to　admit　his　lordship；　Balby　and　the　king　left　the　house　unnoticed。
  The　king　was　angry；　and　walked　silently　along　for　a　time；　suddenly　remaining　standing；　he　gazed　steadily　at　Balby；　and　broke　out　into　a　loud；　merry　laugh；　that　startled　the　passers…by；　and　made　them　look　wonderingly　after　him。
  〃Balby；　my　friend；〃　he　said；　still　laughing；　〃I　will　tell　you　something　amusing。　Never　in　my　life　did　I　feel　so　humble　and　ashamed　as　when　his　excellency　entered　the　gallery　so　triumphantly；　and　we　slipped　away　so　quietly　from　the　house。　Truly；　I　was　fool　enough　to　be　angry　at　first；　but　I　now　feel　that　the　scene　was　irresistibly　comic。　Oh！　oh；　Balby！　do　laugh　with　me。　Think　of　us；　who　imagine　ourselves　to　be　such　splendidly　handsome　men；　being　shown　the　door；　and　that　horrid　shrunken；　diseased　old　man　being　received　with　such　consideration！　He　smelt　like　a　salve…box；　we　are　odorous　with　ambrosia；　but　all　in　vain；　Abramson　preferred　the　salve…box。〃
  〃Abramson's　olfactories　are　not　those　of　a　courtier；〃　said　Balby；　〃or　he　would　have　fainted　at　the　odor　of　royalty。　But　truly；　this　Mr。　Abramson　is　a　disgraceful　person；　and　I　beg　your　majesty　to　avenge　Mr。　Zoller。〃
  〃I　shall　do　so。　He　deserves　punishment；　he　has　insulted　me　as　a　man；　the　king　will　punish　him。〃　＇Footnote：　The　king　kept　his　word。　The　Jew　heard　afterward　that　it　was　the　king　whom　he　had　treated　so　disrespectfully；　and　here　could　never　obtain　his　forgiveness。　He　was　not　allowed　to　negotiate　with　the　Prussian　government　or　banks；　and　was　thus　bitterly　punished　for　his　misconduct。＇
  〃And　now　we　will　have　our　check　cashed　by　Mr。　Witte。　I　bet　he　will　not　dismiss　us　so　curtly；　for　my　draft　is　for　ten　thousand　crowns；　and　he　will　be　respectfulif　not　to　us；　to　our　money。〃
  The　worthy　and　prosperous　Madame　Witte　had　just　finished　dusting　and　cleaning　her　state　apartment；　and　was　giving　it　a　last　artistic　survey。　She　smiled　contentedly；　and　acknowledged　that　there　was　nothing　more　to　be　done。　The　mirrors　and　windows　were　of　transparent　brightnessno　dust　was　seen　on　the　silk　furniture　or　the　costly　ornamentsit　was　perfect。　With　a　sad　sigh　Madame　Witte　left　the　room　and　locked　the　door　with　almost　a　feeling　of　regret。　She　must　deny　herself　for　the　next　few　days　her　favorite　occupationthere　was　nothing　more　to　dust　or　clean　in　the　apartment　and　only　in　this　room　was　her　field　of　operationonly　here　did　her　husband　allow　her　to　play　the　servant。　With　this　exception　he　required　of　her　to　be　the　lady　of　the　housethe　noble　wife　of　the　rich　bankerand　this　was　a　role　that　pleased　the　good　woman　but　little。　She　locked　the　door　with　a　sigh　and　drew　on　her　shoes；　which　she　was　accustomed　always　to　leave　in　the　hall　before　entering　her　state　apartment；　then　stepped　carefully　on　the　border　of　the　carpet　that　covered　the　hall　to　another　door。　At　this　moment　violent　ringing　was　heard　at　the　front　door。　Madame　Witte　moved　quickly　forward　to　follow　the　bent　of　her　womanly　curiosity　and　see　who　desired　admittance　at　this　unusual　hour。　Two　strangers　had　already　entered　the　hall　and　desired　to　see　the　banker。
  〃Mr。　Witte　is　not　at　home；　and　if　your　business　is　not　too　pressing；　call　again　early　to…morrow　morning。〃
  〃But　my　business　is　pressing；〃　said　Frederick　Zoller；　hastily；　〃I　must　speak　with　Mr。　Witte　to…day。〃
  〃Can　they　wish　to　borrow　money　from　him？〃　thought　Madame　Witte；　who　saw　the　two　strangers　through　the　half…opened　door。
  〃To　borrow；　or　to　ask　credit；　I　am　sure　that　is　their　business。〃
  〃May　I　ask　the　nature　of　your　business？〃　said　the　servant。　〃In　order　to　bring　Mr。　Witte　from　the　Casino　I　must　know　what　you　wish　of　him。〃
  〃I　desire　to　have　a　draft　of　ten　thousand　crowns　cashed；〃　said　Frederick　Zoller；　sharply。
  The　door　was　opened　hastily；　and　Madame　Witte　stepped　forward　to　greet　the　stranger　and　his　companion。　〃Have　the　kindness；　gentlemen；　to　step　in　and　await　my　husband；　he　will　be　here　in　a　quarter　of　an　hour。　Go；　Andres；　for　Mr。　Witte。〃　Andres　ran　off；　and　Madame　Witte　accompanied　the　strangers　through　the　hall。　Arrived　at　the　door　of　the　state　apartment；　she　quickly　drew　off　her　shoes；　and　then　remained　standing；　looking　expectantly　at　the　strangers。
  〃Well；　madame；〃　said　the　king；　〃shall　we　await　Mr。　Witte　before　this　door；　or　will　you　show　us　into　the　next　room？〃
  〃Certainly　I　will；　but　I　am　waiting　on　you。〃
  〃On　us？　And　what　do　you　expect　of　us？〃
  〃What　I　have　done；　sirsto　take　your　shoes　off。〃
  The　king　laughed　aloud。　〃Can　no　one；　then；　enter　that　room　with　shoes　on？〃
  〃Never；　sir。　It　was　a　custom　of　my　great…grandfather。　He　had　this　house　built；　and　never　since　then　has　any　one　entered　it　with　shoes。　Please；　therefore；　take　them　off。〃
  Balby　hastened　to　comply　with　her　peremptory　command。　〃Madame；　it　will　suffice　you　for　me　to　follow　this　custom　of　your　ancestorsyou　will　spare　my　brother　this　ceremony。〃
  〃And　why？〃　asked　Madame　Witte；　astonished。　〃His　shoes　are　no　cleaner　or　finer　than　yours；　or　those　of　other　men。　Have　the　kindness　to　take　off　your　shoes　also。〃
  〃You　are　right；　madame；〃　said　the　king；　seriously。　〃We　must　leave　off　the　old　man　altogether；　therefore；　you　ask　but　little　in　requiring　us　to　take　off　our　shoes　before　entering　your　state　apartment〃　He　stooped