he
King took every opportunity to testify his approbation; my mistress
supplied me with more money than I could expend; and I was presently the
best equipped, and made the greatest figure, of any officer in the whole
corps. The style in which I lived was remarked, for I had only received
from my father's heritage the estate of Great Scharlach; the rent of
which was eight hundred dollars a year, which was far from sufficient to
supply my then expenses. My amour, in the meantime, remained a secret
from my best and most intimate friends. Twice was my absence from
Potzdam and Charlottenberg discovered, and I was put under arrest; but
the King seemed satisfied with the excuse I made, under the pretext of
having been hunting, and smiled as he granted my pardon.

Never did the days of youth glide away with more apparent success and
pleasure than during these my first years at Berlin. This good fortune
was, alas, of short duration. Many are the incidents I might relate, but
which I shall omit. My other adventures are sufficiently numerous,
without mingling such as may any way seem foreign to the subject. In
this gloomy history of my life, I wish to paint myself such as I am; and,
by the recital of my sufferings, afford a memorable example to the world,
and interest the heart of sensibility. I would also show how my fatal
destiny has deprived my children of an immense fortune; and, though I
want a hundred thousand men to enforce and ensure my rights, I will leave
demonstration to my heirs that they are incontestable.

CHAPTER II.

In the beginning of September, 1744, war again broke out between the
Houses of Austria and Prussia. We marched with all speed towards Prague,
traversing Saxony without opposition. I will not relate in this place
what the great Frederic said to us, with evident emotion, when surrounded
by all his officers, on the morning of our departure from Potzdam.

Should any one be desirous of writing the lives of him and his opponent,
Maria Theresa, without flattery and without fear, let him apply to me,
and I will relate anecdotes most surprising on this subject, unknown to
all but myself, and which never must appear under my own name.

All monarchs going to war have reason on their side; and the churches of
both parties resound with prayers, and appeals to Divine Justice, for the
success of their arms. Frederic, on this occasion, had recourse to them
with regret, of which I was a witness.