e, with
another bow.

"The devil, you have," thought I. "How very civil that." And, although
I had heard innumerable anecdotes of the free-and-easy habits of the
Bavarian court, this certainly surprized me, so that I actually, to
prevent a blunder, said, "Am I to understand you, Monsieur le Comte, that
his majesty was graciously pleased"--

"If you will follow me," replied the courtier, motioning with his chapeau;
and in another moment I was elbowing my way through the mob of marquisses
and duchesses, on my way to the raised platform where the king was
standing.

"Heaven grant I have not misunderstood all he has been saying," was my
last thought as the crowd of courtiers fell back on either side, and I
found myself bowing before his majesty. How the grand mareschal entitled
me I heard not; but when the king addressed me immediately in English,
saying,

"I hope your excellency has had a good journey?"

I felt, "Come, there is no mistake here, Harry; and it is only another
freak of fortune, who is now in good humour with you."

The king, who was a fine, tall, well-built man, with a large, bushy
moustache, possessed, though not handsome, a most pleasing expression;
his utterance was very rapid, and his English none of the best, so that
it was with the greatest difficulty I contrived to follow his questions,
which came thick as hail upon me. After some commonplaces about the
roads, the weather, and the season, his majesty said,

"My Lord Callonby has been residing some time here. You know him?" And
then, not waiting for a reply, added, "Pleasant person--well informed
--like him much, and his daughters, too, how handsome they are." Here I
blushed, and felt most awkwardly, while the king continued.

"Hope they will remain some time--quite an ornament to our court.
Monsieur le Comte, his excellency will dance?" I here muttered an
apology about my sprained ankle, and the king turned to converse with
some of the ladies of the court. His majesty's notice brought several
persons now around me, who introduced themselves; and, in a quarter of an
hour, I felt myself surrounded by acquaintances, each vieing with the
other in showing me attention.

Worse places than Munich, Master Harry, thought I, as I chaperoned a fat
duchess, with fourteen quarterings, towards the refreshment-room, and had
just accepted invitations enough to occupy me three weeks in advance.

"I have been looking every where for your excellency,