"Well, tell your news quickly," said the king. "You see that I am
torturing myself with the most wild and incredible suppositions."

"Sire, the Barbarina reached Berlin last night."

"Truly," said the king, indifferently, "so we have at last ravished
her from Venice, and Lord Stuart McKenzie."

"Not exactly so, your highness. Lord Stuart McKenzie arrived in
Berlin this morning."

Frederick frowned. "This is also, as it appears, a case of true
love, and may end in a silly marriage. I am not pleased when men or
women in my service entertain serious thoughts of love or marriage;
it occupies their thoughts and interferes with the performance of
their duty."

"Your majesty judges severely," murmured Fredersdorf, who knew full
well that this remark was intended for his special benefit.

"Well, this is not only my opinion, but I act in consonance with it.
I allow myself no relaxation. Have I ever had a love-affair?
Perhaps, Fredersdorf, you believe my blood to be frozen like ice in
my veins; that I have a heart of stone; in short, that I ceased to
be a man when I became a king."

"Not so; but I believe your majesty is too great and too exalted to
find any one worthy of your love."

"Folly, folly, sheer folly, Fredersdorf! When a man loves, he does