he crown prince bowed, and seated himself upon the tabouret, which the
king, with a slight wave of the hand, signified to him.

"I will endeavor, sire, to follow the elevated sentiments of your
majesty, that I may not dishonor my great teacher."

"You express yourself too modestly, my nephew, and I know that you think
otherwise; that your fiery spirit will never be contented to dishonor
yourself or your ancestors. Fate is favorable to you, and offers the
opportunity to confirm, what I judge you to be--a brave soldier, a
skilful captain--in a word, a true Hohenzollern! I would make you
a commander of a division of my army, and I shall follow every
movement--every operation, with lively interest."

A ray of joy beamed upon the face of the prince; Frederick saw it with
satisfaction, and his heart warmed toward his nephew. "He has at least
courage," he said to himself; "he is no sybarite to quail before the
rough life of war."

"Will your majesty so greatly favor me as to accord me an independent
position in the campaign?"

"I offer you what belongs to you as a general and heir to the throne. On
me it devolves to direct the plans and operations, and on you to
detail them and direct the execution. I shall rejoice to see that you
understand the profession of war practically as well as theoretically.
Therefore, this war is so far welcome, that it will give my crown prince
an opportunity to win his first laurels, and adorn the brow which, until
now, has been crowned with myrtle."

"Your majesty, I--"

"Be silent--I do not reproach you, my nephew; I understand human
nature, and the seductive arts of women. It is time that you seek other
ornament--myrtle becomes a youthful brow, and the helmet adorns the man
crowned with laurels."

"I have long desired it, and I am deeply grateful to your majesty for
the opportunity to win it. This campaign is good fortune to me."

"War is never a good fortune," sighed the king--"for the people it is
great misfortune. I would willingly have avoided it for their sake.
But the arrogance and the passion for territorial aggrandizement of
the young Emperor of Germany forces me to it. I dare not, and will not
suffer Austria to enrich herself through foreign inheritance, ignoring
the legitimate title of a German prince. Bavaria must remain an
independent, free German principality, under a sovereign prince. It
is inevitably necessary for the balance of power. I cannot yield,
therefore, as a Ge