n had not the money, could not raise it: "Advance
us that sum, in their name, your Majesty," proposes the Vienna Court:
"There shall be three-per-cent bonus, interest six per cent, and
security beyond all question!" To which fine offer his Majesty answers,
addressing Seckendorf Junior: "Touching the proposal of my giving the
Bankers Splittgerber and Daun a lift, with a million gulden, to
assist in that loan of theirs,--said proposal, as I am not a merchant
accustomed to deal in profits and percentages, cannot in that form
take effect. Out of old friendship, however, I am, on Their Imperial
Majesty's request, extremely ready to pay down, once and away (A FOND
PERDU), a couple of million gulden, provided the Imperial Majesty will
grant me the conditions known to your Uncle [FULFILMENT of that now
oldish Julich-and-Berg promise, namely!] which are FAIR. In such case
the thing shall be rapidly completed!" [Forster, ii. 151 (without DATE
there).]

In a word, Friedrich Wilhelm falls out with the Kaiser more and more;
experiences more and more what a Kaiser this has been towards him. Queen
Sophie has fallen silent in the History Books; both the Majesties may
look remorsefully, but perhaps best in silence, over the breakages and
wrecks this Kaiser has brought upon them. Friedrich Wilhelm does not
meanly hate the Kaiser: good man, he sometimes pities him; sometimes, we
perceive, has a touch of authentic contempt for him. But his thoughts,
in that quarter, premature old age aggravating them, are generally of
a tragic nature, not to be spoken without tears; and the tears have
a flash at the bottom of them, when he looks round on Fritz and says,
"There is one, though, that will avenge me!" Friedrich Wilhelm, to the
last a broad strong phenomenon, keeps wending downward, homeward, from
this point; the Kaiser too, we perceive, is rapidly consummating his
enormous Spectre-Hunts and Duels with Termagants, and before long will
be at rest. We have well-nigh done with both these Majesties.

The Crown-Prince, by his judicious obedient procedures in these Four
Years at Ruppin, at a distance from Papa, has, as it were, completed
his APPRENTICESHIP; and, especially by this last Inspection-Journey
into Preussen, may be said to have delivered his PROOF-ESSAY with a
distinguished success. He is now out of his Apprenticeship; entitled to
take up his Indentures, whenever need shall be. The rugged old Master
cannot but declare him competent, quali