"Ah, yes, you are right; it would be much too large a one for you!" said Frederick William, laughing.
"No, your majesty, it would be much too small for me. When a cavalier of my quality once determines to build a house, it should be arranged in accordance with his rank and standing, and that costs a great deal of money, much more than I ever possessed. It is true that my father left me a fortune of about two hundred thousand dollars, but what is such a trifle to a nobleman? It was not enough for a decent support, and it was too much to go begging on. I calculated how long this sum might be made to last, and finding that, with considerable economy, it would perhaps do for four years, I lived like a noble and generous cavalier for that time; and during that period I was fortunate enough to have the most devoted friends and the truest sweethearts, who never deserted me until the last dollar of my fortune was expended!"
"Do I understand you to say that you expended two hundred thousand dollars in four years?" asked the king.
"Yes, your majesty; and I assure you that I was obliged to practise the most, rigorous economy."
Frederick William regarded him with surprise, almost with admiration. To the king there was something in this man's nature which was imposing. It was perhaps the great contrast between the unlimited extravagance of the baron and his own frugality, which exerted so great an influence on the king, excited his astonishment, and enlisted his admiration in behalf of this ready, witty, and ever-merry courtier.
"An income of fifty thousand dollars is, therefore, not sufficient for a decent support?" asked the king.
"Your majesty, if one attempted to live in a style befitting a nobleman, on that sum, he might die of hunger."
"Ah, explain that. What sum would you consider necessary to enable you to live in a style befitting a nobleman?"
Pollnitz remained lost in thought for a moment, and then replied:
"You majesty, in order to live somewhat respectably, I should require four hundred thousand dollars yearly."