"
"Sire, it would not become a cavalier to possess a wife and
sweetheart in the same person. Your wife represents your family,
your sweetheart amuses you. You give your wife name and rank, your
sweetheart your love and whole heart. A true cavalier does not love
his wife, but he demands that the world shall honor her as the lady
that bears his name."
"Pollnitz, Pollnitz," said the king, shaking his hand threateningly
at him, "take care that I never see your cavalier in my house, and
no one that is like him; I would have no pity with him, but crush
him with my kingly anger!"
Pollnitz was frightened, and covered himself in a cloud of smoke,
that the king might not see his perplexity.
"Continue," said Frederick William, after a short pause. "I have set
aside a certain amount for every single article you have mentioned,
but I truly hope you have concluded; and that the demon that dwells
in you, and masters you, will make no further suggestions to your
luxurious and insane fancies."
"Yes, your highness; and I beg you will calculate the sum total
necessary for these different articles."
The king calculated, his guests smoked and drank in silence, and
Pollnitz listened attentively to the sound of voices, and noise of
horses in the court.
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