“Your highness’s commands shall be punctually executed,” said Gabriel Nietzel, and, after reverentially bowing, he left the room.

“And now for you, my dear Burgsdorf!” cried the Electoral Prince, advancing a few paces to meet the colonel, and kindly offering him his hand.  “You are heartily welcome, and let me hope that I, too, am welcome to you and your friends.”

“Your highness, you are more than welcome to us—­you have been longed for by us, and we thank God from the depths of our souls that he has finally given you back to us.  All had already abandoned hope of your return to us.  All really believed that you would forsake us in our wretchedness and want, and would never more return to the unhappy Mark of Brandenburg.  But here you are at last, my dearest young sir, and blessed be your coming and your staying.”

“I thank you, colonel, thank you with my whole heart for your good wishes,” said Frederick William kindly; “and trust me, my dear colonel, I know how to treasure them, and will never forget you for these.  You are one of the faithful ones, on whom our house can count in evil as in good days, and on whom an Elector of Brandenburg would never call in vain, if he had need of him.”

“Call upon us, most gracious sir,” said the colonel briskly and joyfully—­“call all your faithful ones, and you shall see they will all come, for they are only waiting for your summons.”

The Electoral Prince smilingly shook his head.  “I am not the Elector of Brandenburg, and I have not the right to summon you.”

“You shall and must be Elector of Brandenburg, and that you may be so, you must gather your faithful ones around you.”

“I do not understand you,” said the Electoral Prince slowly.  “Whether I will ever be Elector of Brandenburg, God only can decide, for in his hands lies my father’s life as well as my own.  May the day be far distant when I enter upon the succession—­may my venerated father for long years to come rule his land in peace and tranquillity.  I long not to grasp the reins of government, for I know very well that I am yet much too young to guide them with wisdom and prudence.”

“You will not understand me, your highness,” cried the colonel impatiently, and his red swollen face glowed with a brighter hue.  “But I must still try to make you understand, for to that very end have I been sent hither by your friends; they have chosen me as spokesman for them all, and therefore I must speak, if your highness will grant me leave so to do.”

“Speak, my dear colonel, speak, and may God enlighten my heart, that I may rightly understand you!  Let us sit down, colonel, and now let us hear what is the matter.”