“I humbly beg your majesty’s pardon for venturing to disturb you,” he said, bowing reverentially; “but I must request your majesty to decide a most important domestic matter—a matter that brooks no delay.”
“Well, what is it?” said the king, rising and walking over to the marshal.
“Your majesty, it is about the bill of fare for the royal table, and I beseech your majesty to read and approve the following paper I have drawn up in regard to it.”
With an obsequious bow, he presented a paper to the king, who read it slowly and attentively.
“What!” he suddenly asked, sharply, “two courses more than formerly?”
“Your majesty,” replied the marshal, humbly, “it is for the table of a KING!”
“And you believe that my stomach has grown larger since I am a king?” asked Frederick William. “No, sir, the meals shall remain the same as heretofore, [Footnote: Vide Eylert, vol. i., p. 18] unless,” he said, politely turning to the queen, “unless you desire a change, my dear?”
The queen archly shook her head. “No,” she said, with a charming smile; “neither has my stomach grown larger since yesterday.”
“There will be no change, then,” said the king, dismissing the marshal.
“Just see,” he said to the queen, when the courtier had disappeared, “what efforts they make in order to bring about a change in our simple and unassuming ways of living; they flatter us wherever they can, and even try to do so by means of our meals.”