That it is indisputable Friedrich did not now live with his Wife, nor seem to concern himself with the empire of women at all; having, except now and then his Sisters and some Foreign Princess on short visit, no women in his Court; and though a great judge of Female merits, graces and accomplishments, seems to worship women in that remote way alone, and not in any nearer.

Which occasioned great astonishment in a world used so much to the contrary.

And gave rise to many conjectures among the idle of mankind, "What, on Earth, or under Earth, can be the meaning of it ?"--and among others, to the above scandalous rumor, as some solacement to human malice and impertinent curiosity.
2.

That an opposite rumor--which would indeed have been pretty fatal to this one, but perhaps still more disgraceful in the eyes of a Demon Newswriter--was equally current; and was much elaborated by the curious impertinent.

Till Nicolai got hold of it, in Herr Dr.Zimmermann's responsible hands; and conclusively knocked it on the head.