"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." "Why do you not buy it, if the count offered it to you ?" The equerry assumed a sad mien, and answered, sighing: "Sire, I should be the happiest of men if I could buy that charming residence, and it would be a real blessing to me if I could enjoy in summer at times the fresh air.