After a few moments he rang, and the summons was immediately answered by the footman Schultz.
The king fixed upon him one of those searching glances of his fiery eyes which confounded and confused the footman.

He remained standing and embarrassed, with downcast look.
"What are you standing there for ?" asked the king.

"Did I not ring for you, and do you not know what you have to do ?" Frederick continued to regard him, with flashing eyes, which increased the lackey's confusion.
He forgot entirely that the summons was for his majesty's lunch, and all that he had to do was to open the door to the adjoining room, where it stood already prepared.
Frederick waited a moment, but the footman still stood irresolute, when his majesty indicated to him to approach.
He approached, staggering under the puzzling glance of his master.
"Oh! I see what it is," said Frederick, shrugging his shoulders; "you are drunk again, as you often are, and--" "Your majesty," cried Schultz, amazed, "I drunk!" "Silence!--will you be bold enough to reason with me?
I say that you are drunk, and I want no drunken footmen.

They must be well-behaved, sober fellows, who keep their ears open and their mouths shut--who are neither drunkards nor gossips, and do not take for truth what they have experienced in their drunken fits.

I do not want such fellows as you are at all; you are only fit food for cannon, and for that you shall serve.
Go to General Alvensleben, and present yourself to enter the guards.