test French style; he wore a blue,
silver-embroidered velvet coat, with small-clothes of the same material,
which met his white silk stockings at the knee, and were fastened by a
band with a diamond clasp. His shoes were also ornamented with diamond
buckles and red heels. He wore a three-cornered hat, with a
white feather, which was placed lightly and gracefully upon his
stiffly-curled, well-powdered peruke. Splendid lace covered his breast,
and broad lace cuffs fell over his white gloved hands. It was a perfect
ball dress, such as was worn at that time at court by all ambassadors
who were not military, in their ceremonious audiences with the
sovereign.

Near this man, dressed so gracefully and airily, was another cavalier
who presented a great contrast to him. As the one seemed dressed for a
summer day, so the other appeared prepared for the coldest weather;
the one was ready for the ball-room, and the other for the steppes of
Siberia. The long, thin figure of the latter was concealed by a fur
mantle, made of the skin of the white Lapland wolf, and lined and
trimmed with a darker fur; around his waist was bound a costly gold
embroidered shawl, from which hung a small golden cup, and a richly
ornamented razor. At his side, instead of the Turkish sabre, a bag,
richly worked with gold and pearls, was suspended by golden chains. He
wore a fez, on the front of which was embroidered a small golden cup.

Behind these two men came a troop of Turkish, Tartar, and European
servants, all in livery; and these were followed by a golden chariot,
with closely-drawn blinds, the interior being impenetrable to the most
curious gaze. Four Tartars in long white fur mantles rode on either side
of the chariot, with drawn swords.

The chariot was followed by a most remarkable crowd, consisting of
Prussian soldiers from every regiment, and in every variety of uniform,
of peasants and their wives, of old men and children, who were all
struck dumb with astonishment and admiration at the sight of this
strange cavalcade which now paused before the king's house.

The guards saluted, and the generals and staff officers advanced
silently and bowed profoundly to the two cavaliers, who were such a
singular contrast to one another, and who were evidently the important
persons of the cavalcade. They swung themselves lightly from their
saddles, and returned the polite greetings of the generals; the one in
fluent German, the other in equally flowing w