Did you go to Berlin to see Mademoiselle Enke last night ?" "Yes, your majesty, I was there, and have brought you the writing." "Was she alone ?" asked the king, bending over to caress Alkmene, who lay at his feet.
"Well," answered Kretzschmar, grinning, "I do not know whether she was alone or not.

I only know that, as I waited a little on the corner of the street, I saw a gentleman go out, wrapped in a cloak, a tall, broad-shouldered gentleman, whom I--" "Whom you naturally did not recognize," said the king, interrupting him; "it was a dark night, and no moon, so that you could not see." "At your service, your majesty, I could see no one; I would only add that the unknown may have been at Mademoiselle Enke's." "And he may not have been," cried the king, harshly.

"What else did you learn ?" "Nothing at all worth speaking about.

Only one thing I must say, the lackey Schultz is a prattling fool, and speaks very disrespectfully." "Did he talk with you ?" "Yes, your majesty, with me." "Then he knows well that it would be welcome.

What did he say ?" "He related to me a love-affair with the crown princess of Prussia eleven years since.