the good it had done us, he directly, and very
unskilfully, sent the Prince Royal to Petersburg [who had not the least
success there, loutish fellow, and was openly snubbed by a Czarina gone
into new courses]. His Majesty already doubted that the Court of Russia
was about to escape him:--and I was dying of fear lest, in the middle of
all his kindnesses, he should remember that I was an Austrian. 'What,'
said I to myself, 'not a single epigram on us, or on our Master? What a
change!'

"One day, at dinner, babbling Pinto said to the person sitting next him,
'This Kaiser is a great traveller; there never was one who went so far.'
'I ask your pardon, Monsieur,' said the King; 'Charles Fifth went to
Africa; he gained the Battle of Oran.' And, turning towards me,--who
couldn't guess whether it was banter or only history,--'This time,' said
he, 'the Kaiser is more fortunate than Charles Twelfth; like Charles,
he entered Russia by Mohilow; but it appears to me he will arrive at
Moscow.'

"The same Pinto, one day, understanding the King was at a loss whom to
send as Foreign Minister some-whither, said to him: 'Why does not your
Majesty think of sending Lucchesini, who is a man of much brilliancy
(HOMME D'ESPRIT)?' 'It is for that very reason,' answered the King,
'that I want to keep him. I had rather send you than him, or a dull
fellow like Monsieur--' I forget whom, but believe it is one whom he did
appoint Minister somewhere.

"M. de Lucchesini, by the charm of his conversation, brought out that of
the King's. He knew what topics were agreeable to the King; and then,
he knew how to listen; which is not so easy as one thinks, and which no
stupid man was ever capable of. He was as agreeable to everybody as to
his Majesty, by his seductive manners and by the graces of his mind.
Pinto, who had nothing to risk, permitted himself everything. Says he:
'Ask the Austrian General, Sire, all he saw me do when in the service of
the Kaiser.'

EGO. "'A fire-work at my Wedding, was n't that it, my dear Pinto?'

KING (interrupting). "'Do me the honor to say whether it was
successful?'

EGO. "'No, Sire; it even alarmed all my relations, who thought it a bad
omen. Monsieur the Major here had struck out the idea of joining Two
flaming Hearts, a very novel image of a married couple. But the groove
they were to slide on, and meet, gave way: my Wife's heart went, and
mine remained.'

KING. "'You see, Pinto, you were not good for much to t