Then I will pardon him, and receive him into my service again.

He is a good-natured fellow, and would not betray any one as Kretzschmar betrayed him." The king stepped to the window to look at the gentleman who was eagerly engaged in conversation with the castellan of Sans-Souci.

At this instant the footman entered with a sealed note for the king.

"From his royal highness Prince Henry," said he.
"Who brought it ?" "The gentleman who speaks with the castellan upon the terrace.

I wait your majesty's commands." "Wait, then." The note ran thus: "Your majesty, my dearly-beloved brother: The bearer, Johann Wolfgang Goethe, one of the literati, and a poet, and at this time secretary of legation to the duchy of Saxe-Weimar, is a great favorite of the duke's, our nephew.