Pollnitz shrugged his shoulders. "Sire, "he said, sighing, "his
highness will not understand that a prince must have no heart. He
still continues in his disobedience, and declares that no man should
marry a woman without loving her; that he would be contemptible and
cowardly to allow himself to be forced to do what should be the free
choice of his own heart."

Pollnitz had spoken with downcast eyes and respectful countenance;
he appeared not to notice that the king reddened and his eyes burned
with anger.

"Ah! my brother dared to say that?" cried the king. "He has the
Utopian thought to believe that he can defy my wishes. Tell him he
is mistaken; he must submit to me as I had to submit to my father."

"He gives that as an example why he will not yield. He believes a
forced marriage can never be a happy one; that your majesty had not
only made yourself unhappy by your marriage, but also your queen,
and that there was not a lady in the land who would exchange places
with your wife."

The king glanced piercingly at Pollnitz. "Do you know it would have
been better had you forgotten a few of my wise brother's words?"

"Your majesty commanded me to tell you faithfully every word the
prince said."

"And you are too much a man of truth and obedience, too little of a
courtier, not to be frank and faithful. Is it not so? Ah! vraiment,