A basket of fine cherries having been sent to Frederick the Great, at a time when that fruit was extremely scarce, he sent them by one of his pages to the Queen. The page, tempted by the beauty of the fruit, could not resist tasting, and finding them delicious, devoured them all, without reflecting on the consequences.
A few days afterwards Frederick asked the Queen how she had liked the cherries.
“Cherries?” said the Queen, “what cherries?”
“Why, did not Clist, the page, bring you a basket the other day?”
“No,” replied her majesty, “I have not seen any.”
“Oh,” said the King, “I will give that rogue something more savory.”
He then went to his room and wrote the following note to the officer of the royal guard.
“Give the bearer twenty-five lashes, and take his receipt for them.”
He then called Clist, and told him to take the note to the guard-house and wait for an answer.