No one dreamed
that this gay, smiling prince, on whose lips there was always a
witty jest or bon mot; who proposed a concert every evening, in
which he himself took part; who surrounded himself with artists,
poets, and gay cavaliers, with whom he passed many nights of wild
mirth and gayety--no one dreamed that this harmless, ingenuous young
prince, was on the point of overthrowing the existing politics of
the European states, and of giving an entirely new form to the whole
of Germany.
The king had not raised his mask for a moment; he had matured his
plans under the veil of inviolate secrecy. The moment of their
accomplishment had now arrived; this evening, during the mask ball
which had been prepared with such pomp and splendor, the king with
his regiments would leave Berlin and proceed to Silesia. But even
the troops did not know their destination. The journals had
announced that the army would leave Berlin to go into new winter
quarters, and this account was generally believed. Only a few
confidants, and the generals who were to accompany the king, were
acquainted with this secret. The king, after a final conference, in
which he gave the last instructions and orders, said:
"Now, gentlemen, that we have arranged our business, we will think
of our pleasure.
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