"That is not true, not possible!" exclaimed the king.
"That is so very possible, sire, that I hardly know whether it would suffice or not."
"Gentlemen, do you believe that?" asked the king.
"I, for my part, have not the fourth part of this income," said the Duke of Holstein, smiling.
"I not the tenth!" said Count Von der Goltz.
"And I not the twentieth!" exclaimed General Von Schwerin and Count Hacke at the same time.
"And yet," said the king, "you all live as respected cavaliers, as esteemed gentlemen of my court. Let us hear how Pollnitz would manage to spend so much money. Quick, Jochen, quick, give us a sheet of paper and a pencil."
The valet hastily executed this commission, and handed the king paper and pencil.
"Fill the glasses, Jochen," ordered the king, "and then seat yourself at the foot of the table, and pay attention to what Von Pollnitz is about to explain. It is worth the trouble to learn how an income of four hundred thousand dollars can be spent in a respectable manner. You shall dictate, and I will be your secretary. Woe to you, however, if you do not keep your word, if you expend less! For every thousand which you fail to account for, you shall drink ten glasses of beer, and smoke a pipe of the strong Havana tobacco recently sent me by the stadtholder of Holland."
"But what shall I receive for every thousand which I expend over and above that sum?" asked Von Pollnitz, laughing.