"I beg pardon, your highness, for having entered unannounced, but you allowed me to come at this hour and give you an account of the commissions you gave me." "Why do you say it is impossible to obtain leave of the king today ?" asked Henry, hastily.
"Because his majesty is already in the concert-saloon, and your highness knows that he has strictly forbidden any one to disturb him there." "We shall, then, have to give up our plan and remain here," said the prince.
Kaphengst glanced angrily and threateningly at his friend.
"And why should your highness do this ?" asked Pollnitz, astonished.

"All your preparations are made, all your commands fulfilled.

I have procured your costumes; no one will recognize you, and if they should, would not dare to betray you to the king.

Only two persons know that you are to visit the ball, the Prince of Prussia, and a lovely lady, whose beautiful eyes were misty with tears when I delivered her your message.
'Tell the prince,' she murmured, in a tender voice, 'I will await him there, even if I knew the king would crush me with his anger.'" The prince blushed with joy.

"And you say it is impossible for me to see the king ?" "Impossible, my prince." "Well, we will have to renounce it," said the prince, sighing.
"Renounce seeing the king, yes! for he will not leave his rooms in Sans-Souci today." "Then we would be entirely safe; he would not notice our departure," said Kaphengst, quickly.
"Entirely safe," said Pollnitz.
"That is, if Baron Pollnitz does not himself inform the king," said Baron Kalkreuth, whose quick, clear glance rested upon the smiling face of the courtier, and appeared to read his inmost thoughts.
Baron Pollnitz cast a suspicious and angry glance at Kalkreuth.