his look said more than his words and her face grew paler than before she turned from him to the child at lier side � are you very tired no was the reply given brightly and with an upward glance of the dark eyes that is right my friend this is � the child we told you of the other night the only daughter of she will dance for us presently will you not my little one yes indeed and the young face lighted up swiftly at the suggestion while taking the seat indicated to him at the supper table experienced a tumult of extraordinary sensations � the chief one of which was that lie felt himself to have been very quietly but effectually by a woman who had succeeded though he knew not how in suddenly awakening in him a violent fever of excitement to which he was at present unable to give a name himself however he glanced up and down the board lifting his glass to salute who responded from his place at the bottom of the table � and very soon he regained usual for he had enormous strength of will and kept an almost tyranny over his feelings his companions and were separated from him and from each other at different � sides of the table and paul the poet was almost immediately opposite to him he was glad to see that he was next but one to � the man between them being a looking fellow with a fierce moustache and exceedingly gentle eyes � who as he afterwards power was one of the greatest in the world � the favourite of kings and courts � and yet for all that a prominent member of the committee the supper which was of a simple almost character was soon served and the landlord in setting the first plate before laid beside it a knot of deep crimson roses as an offering of homage and obedience from himself she thanked him with a smile and glance and taking up the flowers fastened them at her breast conversation now became animated and general and one of the men present a delicate looking young fellow with a head resembling somewhat that of started a discussion by saying suddenly � has sold out all his shares in that new mine that was started the other day it looks as if he did not think after all his newspaper that the thing was going to work if has sold will said his neighbour the two are concerned together in the floating of the whole business and yet another piece of news put in paul suddenly for if we talk of stocks and shares we talk of money what think you my friends i paul have been offered payment for my poems this very afternoon imagine will not the fall a poet to be paid for his poems is as though one should offer the creator a pecuniary consideration for creating the flowers his face was flushed and his eyes bright listen my he said wonders never cease in this world but this is the most wonderful of all wonders out of the merest mischief and malice the other day i sent my latest book of poems to the king shame shame interrupted a dozen voices against the rules paul you have broken the bond paul laughed loudly how you yell my he cried how you about the rules of your wait till you hear you surely do not suppose i sent the book out of any humility or loyalty or desire for notice do you i sent it out of pure hate and scorn to show as a fool the scorn of kings majesty that there was something he could not do � something that should last when he was forgotten � a few burning lines that should like eat into his throne and it i sent it some days ago and got an acknowledgment from the who writes majesty s letters but this afternoon i received a much more important � a letter from secretary to our very honourable and he me in set terms that his majesty the king has been pleased to appreciate my work as a poet to the extent of offering me a hundred golden pieces a year for the term of my natural life i ha ha a hundred golden pieces a year and thus they would fasten this wild bird of song to a royal cage for a bit of sugar a hundred golden pieces a year it means food and lodging � warm blankets to sleep in � but it means something else � loss of independence then you will not accept it said looking at him with interest over the rim the glass from which he was just his wine accept it i have already refused it by swift return of post shouts of echoed around him on all sides men sprang up and shook hands with him and patted him on the back and even over the dark face of there passed a bright smile with all thy faults thou art a brave man said the young man with the like head who was in reality confidential clerk to one of the largest in the metropolis a thousand times better to starve than to accept royal to your health said leaning forward glass in hand your refusal of the king s offered is a greater tragedy than any you have ever tried to write hear her cried she knows exactly how to put it for look you there are the true elements of tragedy in a worn coat and scant food while the thoughts that help nations to live or die are burning in one s brain then comes a king with a handful of gold � and gold would be useful � it always is but � by heaven to pay a poet for his poems is as i 