At last the King gave me the sign to go; lifting his hat very kindly, and saying: 'Adieu, my dear M.Zimmermann; I am very glad to have seen you.'" Towards 6 P.M.now, and Friedrich must sign his Despatches; have his Concert, have his reading; then to supper (as spectator only),--with Quintus Icilius and old Lord Marischal, to-night, or whom?
[Of Icilius, and a quarrel and estrangement there had lately been, now happily reconciled, see Nicolai, _Anekdoten,_ vi.

140-142.] "Herr von Catt accompanied me into the anteroom, and Schmucker followed.
I could not stir from the spot; could not speak, was so charmed and so touched, that I broke into a stream of tears [being very weak of nerves at the time!].

Herr von Catt said: 'I am now going back to the King; go you into the room where I took you up; about eight I will conduct you home.' I pressed my excellent countryman's hand, I"-- "Schmucker said, I had stood too near his Majesty; I had spoken too frankly, with too much vivacity; nay, what was unheard of in the world, I had 'gesticulated' before his Majesty! 'In presence of a King,' said Herr Schmucker, 'one must stand stiff and not stir.' De Catt came back to us at eight; and, in Schmucker's presence [let him chew the cud of that!], reported the following little Dialogue with the King:-- KING.

"'What says Zimmermann ?' DE CATT.

"'Zimmermann, at the door of your Majesty's room, burst into a stream of tears.' KING.