Frederick the Great and His Court | Page 7

chained to one spot by his disease, and unable
to direct the affairs of State, he attempted to banish thought and
suffering, by working with his tools. Often in passing near the palace at
a late hour of the night, you might hear the heavy blows of a hammer,
and consider them a bulletin of the king's health. If he worked at night,
the good people of Berlin knew their king to be sleepless and suffering,
and that it would be dangerous to meet him in his walk on the
following day, for some thoughtless word, or careless look, or even the
cut of a coat, would bring down on the offender a stinging blow or a
severe reprimand. Only a few days had passed since the king had
caused the arrest of two young ladies, and sent them to the fortress of

Spandau, because, in walking through the park at Schonhausen, he
overheard them declare the royal garden to be "charmant! charmant!"
One French word was sufficient to condemn these young girls in the
eyes of the king; and it was only after long pleading that they were
released from confinement. The men were fearful of being seized by
the king, and held as recruits for some regiment; and the youths
trembled if they were caught lounging about the streets. As soon,
therefore, as the king left the proud castle of his ancestors, all who
could fled from the streets into some house or by-way, that they might
avoid him.
But now they had nothing to fear. His queen dared to wear her jewels;
his subjects walked unmolested through the streets, for the king was
suffering, chained to his chair, and occupying himself with his tools.
This employment had a beneficial effect: it not only caused the king to
forgot his sufferings, but was often the means of relief. The constant
and rapid motion of his hands and arms imparted a salutary warmth to
his whole body, excited a gentle perspiration, which quieted his
nervous system, and soothed him in some of his most fearful attacks.
To-day the king was once more freed from his enemy, the gout; this
evil spirit had been exorcised by honest labor, and its victim could hope
for a few painless hours.
The king raised himself from his chair, and with a loud cry of delight
extended his arms, as if he would gladly embrace the universe. He
commanded the servant, who was waiting in the adjoining room, to call
together the gentlemen who composed the Tobacco Club, and to
arrange every thing for a meeting of that august body.
"But those gentlemen are at the queen's ball," said the astonished
servant.
"Go there for them, then," said the king; "happily there are no dancers
among them; their limbs are stiff, and the ladies would be alarmed at
their capers if they attempted to dance. Bring them quickly. Pollnitz
must come, and Eckert, and Baron von Goltz, and Hacke, the Duke of
Holstein, and General Schwerin. Quick, quick! In ten minutes they
must all be here, but let no one know why he is sent for. Whisper to
each one that he must come to me, and that he must tell no one where
he is going. I will not have the queen's ball disturbed. Quick, now, and
if these gentlemen are not all here in ten minutes, I will give a ball upon

your back, and your own howls will be the most appropriate music."
This was a threat which lent wings to the feet of the servant, who flew
like a whirlwind through the halls, ordered, with breathless haste, two
servants to carry the tobacco, the pipes, and the beer- mugs into the
king's chamber, and then hurried to the other wing of the palace, where
the ball of the queen was held.
Fortune favored the poor servant. In ten minutes the six gentlemen
stood in the king's ante-room, asking each other, with pale faces, what
could be the occasion of this singular and unexpected summons.
The servant shrugged his shoulders, and silently entered the king's
room. His majesty, dressed in the full uniform of his beloved Guard, sat
at the round table, on which the pipes, and the mugs, filled with
foaming beer, were already placed. He had condescended to fill a pipe
with his own hands, and was on the point of lighting it at the smoking
tallow candle which stood near him.
"Sire," said the servant, "the gentlemen are waiting in the next room."
"Do they know why I have sent for them?" said the king, blowing a
cloud of smoke from his mouth.
"Your majesty forbade me to tell them."
"Well, go now, and tell them I am more furiously angry to-day than
you have ever seen me; that I