question runs, What have I to do for this annuity?  And the answer is, travel about in the world as a free man to hunt up pictures, and when they are worth it, to purchase them for me.  But above all things, to tell no one that you are in my service, but to keep this as a secret between us two.  Pictures you must buy for me; that is all you have to do, master.  But sometimes you must allow me to dictate to you—­where to journey in quest of my pictures.  For example, now:  You have been in Italy, prosecuting your studies there, and have opportunely brought home to me, thence, a Venus, because I desired you to make a few purchases for me.  You have seen how delighted I was with the beautiful picture, but, on the whole, I have taken a greater fancy to landscapes and representations of comedy, and the Flemish painters are the ones I peculiarly admire.  There are the Teniers, father and son, who have painted the most charming and amusing country scenes and comic pieces, and there is another young man, Wouvermann by name, who is said, although youthful in years, to possess great talents, and to understand not merely how to paint splendid clowns, but battle scenes as well.  Now, I should like of all things to possess a couple of pictures by each of these three painters, and since the Teniers lived at Amsterdam and The Hague, and Wouvermann now resides at The Hague, I wish you to go to The Hague and make a few purchases there for me.  But, mark well, without saying that you come there in my employ, or that you have a contract with me.  I should much prefer your assuming the appearance of belonging to my enemies, and sounding in unison with them the trumpet of abuse.”

“Your excellency, how could I venture it, and how can you require of my grateful heart, that it so belie itself, and allow my lips to speak other than words of gratitude and reverence?”

“I empower you so to do, Master Gabriel Nietzel, yes, I require it of you, that you carry such words upon your lips, especially if you are in the presence of the Electoral Prince Frederick William.”

“The Electoral Prince?” asked the painter in astonishment.  “Your excellency will send me to the Electoral Prince at The Hague?”

“On the contrary, you shall act before him as if you hated me, and belonged to the party of my opponents.  But you must by all means reach the Electoral Prince, must seek to remain in his neighborhood, and to gain his confidence.  You are a lively fellow, and have studied life at its fountains in Italy.  The Electoral Prince loves gay company, and you may impart to him a little of your knowledge of life, and teach him that youth must enjoy without scruple or reserve.  Be his maitre de plaisir, Master Gabriel; lead him into the temple of art, and teach him that each fair woman is a Venus, a goddess, and therefore deserving of his worship.  You are a clever painter, and also, as I have heard from Rome, know well how to sip of life’s sweets; and these