The Mix-Up at Court

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Back in the Middle Ages there lived a nobleman of a very irritable temperament. Although he stood high in the favor of the King, possessed a splendid palace and had a lovely daughter, yet his peevish disposition manifested itself on every possible occasion. It happened that a wandering minstrel came playing his violin beneath the windows of the castle, soliciting compensation. The irate noble, hearing the music, flew into a passion and had the musician ejected from the grounds. The strolling violinist, indignant at such treatment, vowed he would get revenge. Climbing through an open window into the castle, he notices his own exact resemblance to a portrait of the nobleman which hung upon the wall. In a costume belonging to the noble his resemblance to his lordship is perfect. So excellent is the likeness that the musician decides to go to the King's court, posing as the nobleman. He acts the part very cleverly, so that the King and his courtiers are completely deceived. His amiable demeanor, however, impresses everybody, as the change from the customary fretfulness is very marked. Meantime the real nobleman hurries to the court. There a ludicrous scene is presented, the indignant noble denouncing the pretender and demanding the royal recognition. To prove his own identity he sends for his old nurse, who calls attention to a birthmark on his knee. To the amazement of all the disguised musician also has the same birthmark. The King then takes the law into his own hands and decides that he prefers the one with the gentle and amiable disposition. The real nobleman of the irritable temperament is then thrown out of the royal presence as an impostor.