And the people shrieked with delight.
The musicians, perspiring with excitement, stood overcome with surprise. They had succeeded beyond their wildest hopes, but the King brought them to their senses in a minute by asking:
"What is the composer's name?"
"What'll we tell him?" moaned Teutonstring. "It will never do to confess what we have done now."
"I'm sure I don't know," returned Flatz, with a shiver.
"The composer's name, sir," replied Von Kärlingtongs, more ready of wit than the others—"the composer's name is—ah—is—"
"Well?" said the King, impatiently.
"It is Kärlingteutonflatz," said Von Kärlingtongs.
"Give him a thousand marks," said the King, "and distribute a thousand more to these gentlemen," he added.
And then the royal party proceeded on its way.