r repeated where not necessary. The Mother is now dead;
Father still up to the eyes in puddle and trouble: but as for the
young Lady herself, she is Niece to the now Czarina Anne; by law of
primogeniture Heiress of all the Russias; something of a match truly!

"But there will be difficulties; your Highness to change your religion,
for one thing?--PRINCE: Won't, by any means:--SCHULENBURG: And give up
the succession to Prussia?--PRINCE: A right fool if I did!--SCHULENBURG:
Then this marriage comes to nothing.--Thereupon next he said, If the
Kaiser is so strong for us, let him give me his second Daughter;"
lucky Franz of Lorraine is to get the first.--"SCHULENBURG: Are
you serious?--PRINCE: Why not? with a Duchy or two it would do very
well.--SCHULENBURG: No Duchies possible under the Pragmatic Sanction,
your Highness: besides, your change of religion?--PRINCE: Oh, as to
that, never!--Then this marriage also comes to nothing Of the English,
and their Double-Marriage, and their Hotham brabble, he spoke lightly,
as of an extinct matter,--in terms your Excellency will like.

"But, said I, since you speak so much of marriages, I suppose you wish
to be married?--PRINCE: No; but if the King absolutely will have it, I
will marry to obey him. After that, I will shove my wife into the corner
(PLANTERAI LA MA FEMME), and live after my own fancy.--SCHULENBURG:
Horrible to think of! For, in the first place, your Highness, is it not
written in the Law of God, Adulterers shall not inherit the Kingdom of
Heaven?" And in the second place; and in the third and fourth place!--To
all which he answered as wild young fellows do, especially if you force
marriage on them. "I can perceive, if he marries, it will only be to
have more liberty than now. It is certain, if he had his elbows free, he
would strike out (S'EN DONNERAIT A GAUCHE). He said to me several
times: 'I am young; I want to profit by my youth.'" A questionable young
fellow, Herr General; especially if you force marriage on him.

"This conversation done," continues the General, "he set to talking with
the Madam Wreech," and her complexion of lily and rose; "but he did not
stay long; drove off about five [dinner at the stroke of twelve in those
countries], inviting me to see him again at Custrin, which I promised."

And so the Prince is off in the Autumn sunset, driving down the peaty
hollow of the Warta, through unpicturesque country, which produces
Wreechs and incomparable flowe