"Balby," said the king, solemnly, but with a roguish sparkle of the
eye, "I wish to present you this plain brown suit. I owe you a
reward for your hearty friendship and your faithful services. This
is a princely gift. Take it as a mark of my grateful regard. That
you may be convinced, Balby, that I have long been occupied in
preparing this surprise for you, I inform you that these rich
articles were made secretly for you in Berlin, by your tailor; I
packed them myself, and brought them here for you. Accept them,
then, my friend, and wear them in memory of Frederick."

With a solemn bow, the king offered Balby the clothes.

The colonel received this strange present with an astonished and
somewhat confused countenance.

The king laughed merrily. "What," he said, pathetically, "are you
not contented with the favor I have shown you?"

Balby knew by the comic manner of the king that the sombre suit hid
a secret, and he thought it wise to allow the king to take his own
time for explanation.

"Sire," he said, emphatically, "content is not the word to express
my rapture. I am enthusiastic, speechless at this unheard-of favor.
I am filled with profound gratitude to your majesty for having in
vented a new costume for me, whose lovely color will make me appear
like a large coffee-bean, and make all the coffee sisters adore me."

The king was highly amused. "This dress certainly has the power of
enchantment. When Colonel Balby puts on these clothes he will be