"You must then hear my story," the young lady remarked, with a smile:
The voice delighted both their majesties greatly, and as soon as I perceived this I began saying everything I could in favour of the young man without, till the king laughed, and said:
"Why, she must be in love with the fellow."
I felt that I blushed at this remark, but still answered boldly:
"Yes, your majesty, for he saved me, two years ago, from a frightful wolf."
"Diable!" the king added. "You are of a very old family, and might get a lieutenant, as far as I know."
Here the queen interposed, and begged his majesty, who was in very good humour that day, not to torment me further. I had opened my whole heart to her, and was determined on having this grenadier, or no one else, for my husband. "I must beg your majesty to remember," the queen continued, "how carefully this good girl attended to our child in its last illness."
"Well!" the king remarked, "we'll see. The captain praises the fellow; but still she cannot by any possibility marry a simple curate. Well, as I said, we'll see. I'll examine the fellow myself; but apropos, suppose he will not have you?"
I did not know what answer to make to this inquiry, save by letting my eyes sink on the ground; but the queen came to my assistance, by saying, "Your majesty will be best fitted to arrange that matter."
"Well, that's very true," the king replied. "We'll see, then; the fellow will not be such a fool as to refuse." And with these words his majesty left the room, apparently in deep thought.
"That is the end of my story," the young lady said, "and my husband must proceed with his now."
Carl, therefore, continued:
I naturally believed that I had been quite unnotieed, especially as nothing of the slightest importance occurred during the remainder of the day that might nourish my hopes.
The next morning, however, at parade, the king cried out, after he had finished all other affairs,
"Where is the fellow who stood as sentry yesterday morning between eleven and twelve at the queen's door?—let him step out of the ranks."
With a beating heart I obeyed this order, on which his majesty, without moving a feature, first measured me from head to foot, and then said, "Two under-officers here—take the fellow's coat off!" I could fancy nothing else than that I was going to be tied up to the halberts for my unseasonable singing, and therefore began tremulously, "I implore your majesty, with all submission" but the king interrupted me: "Don't argue—take his waistcoat off!" The under-officers did what they were commanded, and the king in the same tone, and without moving a feature, said—"Now his gaiters!"
I now fancied I was going to be impaled at the least, and entreated, in my fear, "I beg your majesty, on my knees, to be merciful to a poor fellow;" but the same answer was given me—"Don't argue."
