attitude, and still continued to regard her as she painfully dragged
herself down the walk, as if her limbs were giving way under her.
Long stood the king gazing after her, resting upon his staff; and as
she disappeared at the end of the walk, he still stood there
immovable. By degrees his face assumed a milder expression. "He who
is free from sin, let him cast the first stone at her," said the
king, softened, as he slowly turned down the path which would lead
to his carriage, waiting outside the park.

Frederick was lost in thought, and addressed no conversation to the
equerry, Von Schwerin, who sat opposite to him. But as they drove
through the beautiful street Unten den Linden, at Berlin, Frederick
glanced at the equerry, and found that he had fallen asleep, wearied
with the long silence and the monotony of the drive. The king spoke
to Alkmene, loud and earnestly, until Herr von Schwerin, awakened
and startled, glanced at the king, frightened, and trying to
discover whether his fearful crime against etiquette would draw upon
him the royal censure. Frederick, however, appeared not to notice
his fright, and spoke kindly to him: "Did you not tell me, Schwerin,
that Count Schmettau would sell his country residence at
Charlottenburg?"

"At your service, your majesty, he asked me to purchase it, or find
him a purchaser."

"How much is it worth?"

"Sire, Count Schmettau demands eight thousand dollars for it. There
is a beautiful park belonging to it, and the house is worthy the
name of a castle, so large is it."