and Bettina, is beyond my powers. No!"

When they had ceased laughing the Duke continued his catechism.

"Was it when the great poet G---- (your only rival) paid that handsome
compliment to your verses on ----"

"No!" interrupted the poet. "A thousand times no! The great poet
praised the verses you allude to simply to cover his depreciation of
my 'Captive Queen,' which is among my best efforts, but too much in
his own style. How Germany can worship his bombastic ---- but that's
nothing! No."

"Was it when you passed accidentally through the streets of Dresden,
and the crowd discovered you, and carried you to the hotel on its
shoulders?"

The momentary frown passed from Friedrich's face, and he laughed
again.

"And when the men who carried me twisted my leg so that I couldn't
walk for a fortnight, to say nothing of the headache I endured from
bowing to the populace like a Chinese mandarin? No!"

"Is it any triumph you have enjoyed in any other country in Europe?"

"No!"

"My dear genius, I can guess no more; what, in the name of Fortune,
was this happy occasion--this life triumph?"