He ate cold pastry , and poached eggs , and ham , and rolls , and raspberry jam , and hot cakes ; and he drank two cups of coffee . Meanwhile the king had joined the tradesmen who attended by his orders . They were all met in the royal study , where the king made them a most splendid bow , and requested them to be seated . But they declined to sit in his sacred presence , and the king observed that , in that case he must stand up . `` I have invited you here , gentlemen , '' he said , `` on a matter of merely private importance , but I must request that you will be entirely silent as to the nature of your duties . It is difficult , I know , not to talk about one 's work , but in this instance I am sure you will oblige me . '' `` Your Majesty has only to command , '' said Herr Schnipp . `` There have been monarchs , in neighbouring kingdoms , who would have cut off all our heads after we had done a bit of secret business ; but the merest word of your Majesty is law to your loving subjects . '' The other merchants murmured assent , for King Prigio was really liked by his people . He was always good-tempered and polite . He never went to war with anybody . He spent most of the royal income on public objects , and of course there were scarcely any taxes to speak of . Moreover , he had abolished what is called compulsory education , or making everybody go to school whether he likes it or not ; a most mischievous and tyrannical measure ! `` A fellow who ca n't teach himself to read , '' said the king , `` is not worth teaching . '' For all these reasons , and because they were so fond of the queen , his subjects were ready to do anything in reason for King Prigio . Only one tradesman , bowing very deep and blushing very much , said : `` Your Majesty , will you hear me for one moment ? '' `` For an hour , with pleasure , Herr Schmidt , '' said the monarch . `` It is an untradesman-like and an unusual thing to decline an order ; and if your Majesty asked for my heart 's blood , I am ready to shed it , not to speak of anything in the line of my business -- namely , boot and shoe making . But keep a secret from my wife , I fairly own to your Majesty that I can not . '' Herr Schmidt went down on his knees and wept .
-LCB- Herr Schmidt went down on his knees : p52.jpg -RCB- `` Rise , Herr XXXXX , '' said the king , taking him by the hand .
Prigio Schmidt Schnipp hour monarchs orders pastry reasons tradesman war