"And now that we have come to an understanding," said he with a joyous smile, "I may perhaps be permitted to reward my dear friend, and shed a ray of my newly-acquired royalty on this humble dwelling! You said some time ago that you desired to sell this house and live on the proceeds of its sale. I approve of your plan. I will purchase this house of you for five hundred thousand dollars. You will endeavor to live on the interest of this sum; if there should be a hitch now and then, and debts should arise, you need only inform me of the fact and they shall be paid." "Oh, my dear, my generous friend," cried Wilhelmine, "how can I thank you, how--" "Be still," said the king, interrupting her, "I have not yet quite finished. The house is now mine; and the price agreed upon shall be paid you to-morrow out of the royal fund. As I can do what I please with my own property, I intend to make a present of it to the mother of the Count and Countess von der Mark. And it will be my first care to have it enlarged and elegantly furnished, in order that it may be a suitable dwelling for the Count and Countess von der Mark, and particularly for their noble and beautiful mother!" "The Count and Countess von der Mark?" repeated Wilhelmine with astonishment. "Who are they? Who is their mother? I never heard of them!" "You shall soon become acquainted with them, only wait," said the king smiling; and he went to the door, unlocked it, and gave the bell-rope which hung beside it a violent pull. "Where are the children?" asked the king, of the servant who rushed forward to answer his summons. "Your majesty, my young master and mistress are in the dining-room." "Send them to me immediately," said the king; and he remained standing at the door awaiting them. When they came running into the parlor with anxious, inquiring looks, the king took them by the hand and conducted them to their mother. "Madame," said he, gravely, "I have the honor to introduce to you Countess Mariane and Count Alexander von der Mark." "Count Alexander von der Mark?" repeated the boy, looking up wonderingly at his father. "Who is that?" "That you are, my son," said the king, as he stooped down and raised the boy up in his arms. "You are the Count von der Mark, and your sister is the countess; and you shall have the Prussian eagle in your coat of arms, and shall be honored at my court as my dear, handsome son. All the proud courtiers shall bow their heads before you and your sister. The Count and Countess von der Mark shall have the precedence at my court over all the noble families; and their place shall immediately be behind the royal princesses." "And that will be my dear mamma's place, too?" said Alexander. "She will always be where we are?"