“Do so, Master Brandt,” cried the count, smiling.  “I fully empower you to purchase tallow candles for distribution, to the amount of a hundred dollars; only, take care that the people actually light and burn them up, and do not consume them as dainties these hard times.  And one thing more, Brandt!  It would be pleasant to me if you would excite a few people against me and his highness the Elector, while you tell them various bad things about me, and attribute it as a crime to the Elector that he is so devoted to me.  You might then urge on to the palace such people as you have stirred up and goaded, so that, as soon as the Electoral Prince arrives, they might shout with loud distinct voices:  ’Long live the Electoral Prince!  Long live our savior and deliverer!  Down with the Catholics.  Away with Schwarzenberg!’ You can at least persuade ten or fifteen to do this, and promise them that they shall have money to buy a good drink if they shout right loudly and clearly.  Well, why do you smile so all of a sudden, man?”

“Pardon me, your highness, but when I entered upon my office, four weeks ago, your excellency urged it upon me as a stringent duty to report truly to your honor, not only what happens, but what is the mood of the people here.  Does this command always have validity, your excellency?”

“It has validity for the whole term of your service, Master Brandt, or, rather, you will only remain chief of police so long as I am convinced that you always report to me the full truth in all things, without reserve.  Speak!  What would you say?”

“Your highness, I would only say that it is not necessary to stir up the people to give utterance to such infamous and disrespectful outcries against your excellency.  They will do so of their own accord, and if I should not pick up the first who raised such a cry, have him arrested, and carried off, then immediately would twenty fellows be found, without any prompting from me, to shout exactly the words which your excellency would gladly hear.”

“You mean the words:  ’Away with the Catholics!  Down with Schwarzenberg’?”

“I beg your honor’s pardon, but those are the words I mean.”

The count laughed clearly.  “Well,” he said, “so much the better!  We will be spared then some trouble and expense, which is always a very pleasant thing.  But hear, Sir Master of Police!  If we let the fellows shout to-day, it does not follow that we shall not administer fitting punishment to-morrow.  Mark the shouters very narrowly, and to-morrow, when the merriment is over, have them arrested and thrust into prison for a couple of weeks!”

The chief of police shrugged his shoulders.  “I crave pardon, your excellency; that is no punishment for the rabble in these days.  They are glad when they are put away at Oxenhead, or here in the castle prison, receiving food and lodgings free of cost, and many a one, who formerly lived in honor and affluence, would to-day be gladly found guilty of some fault, for the sake of being arrested and supported in prison at the expense of the state.”