Frederick cast a dark and contemptuous glance at him.  “You are a miserable mocker and despiser of all holy things; you belong to that large class who, not from convictions of reason, but from worldly-mindedness and licentiousness, do not believe in the Christian religion.  Such men can never be honest; they have, perhaps, from their childhood been preached to, not to do evil from fear of hell-fire; and so soon as they cease to believe in hell-fire, they give themselves up to vice without remorse.  You are one of these most miserable wretches; and I say to you, that you will at last suffer the torments of the damned.  I know there is a hell-fire, but it can only be found in a man’s conscience!  Now go and enter at once upon your duties; in two hours I will receive Count Tessin in the palace at Berlin.”

Pollnitz made the three customary bows and left the room.  The king gazed after him contemptuously.  “He is a finished scoundrel!” Then turning to Fredersdorf, who at that moment entered the room, he said, “I believe Pollnitz would sell his mother if he was in want of money.  You have brought me back a charming fellow; I rejoice that there are no more of the race; Pollnitz has at least the fame of being alone in his style.  Is there any one else who asks an audience?”

“Yes, sire, the antechamber is full, and every man declares that his complaint can only be made personally to your majesty.  It will require much time to listen to all these men, and would be, besides, a bad example.  If your majesty receives fifty men to-day, a hundred will demand audience to-morrow; they must therefore be put aside; I have advised them all to make their wishes known in writing.”

“Well, I think every man knows that is the common mode of proceeding; as these people have not adopted it, it is evident they prefer speaking to me.  There are many things which can be better said than written.  A king has no right to close his ear to his subjects.  A ruler should not resemble a framed and curtained picture of a god, only on rare and solemn occasions to be stared and wondered at; he must be to his people what the domestic altar and the household god was to the Romans, to which they drew near at all hours with consecrated hearts and pious memories.  Here they made known all their cares, their sorrows, and their joys; here they found comfort and peace.  I will never withdraw myself from my subjects; no, I will be the household god of my people, and will lend a willing ear to all their prayers and complaints.  Turn no man away, Fredersdorf; I will announce it publicly, that every man has the right to appeal to me personally.”

“My king is great and good,” said Fredersdorf, sadly; “every man but myself can offer his petition to your majesty and hope for grace; the king’s ear is closed only to me; to my entreaties he will not listen.”

“Fredersdorf, you complain that I will not give my consent to your marriage.  What would you?  I love you too well to give you up; but when you take a wife you will be forever lost to me.  A man cannot serve two masters, and I will not divide your heart with this Mademoiselle Daum; you must give it to me entire!  Do not call me cruel, Fredersdorf; believe that I love you and cannot give you up.”