ines to nothing but hunting): let his
Hubertsburg become as our Charlottenburg is; perhaps that will touch his
feelings! Friedrich had formed this resolution; and, Wednesday,
January 21st, sends for Saldern, one of the most exact, deft-going
and punctiliously honorable of all his Generals, to execute it. Enter
Saldern accordingly,--royal Audience-room "in the APEL'SCHE HAUS, New
Neumarkt, No. 16," as above;--to whom (one Kuster, a reliable creature,
reporting for us on Saldern's behalf) the King says, in the distinct
slowish tone of a King giving orders:--

KING. "Saldern, to-morrow morning you go [ER, He goes) with a detachment
of Infantry and Cavalry, in all silence, to Hubertsburg; beset the
Schloss, get all the furnitures carefully packed up and invoiced. I want
nothing with them; the money they bring I mean to bestow on our Field
Hospitals, and will not forget YOU in disposing of it."

Saldern, usually so prompt with his "JA" on any Order from the King,
looks embarrassed, stands silent,--to the King's great surprise;--and
after a moment or two says:--

SALDERN. "Forgive me, your Majesty: but this is contrary to my honor and
my oath."

KING (still in a calm tone). "You would be right to think so if I did
not intend this desperate method for a good object. Listen to me: great
Lords don't feel it in their scalp, when their subjects are torn by
the hair; one has to grip their own locks, as the only way to give them
pain." (These last words the King said in a sharper tone; he again made
his apology for the resolution he had formed; and renewed his Order.
With the modesty usual to him, but also with manliness, Saldern
replied:)--

SALDERN. "Order me, your Majesty, to attack the enemy and his batteries,
I will on the instant cheerfully obey: but against honor, oath and duty,
I cannot, I dare not!"

The King, with voice gradually rising, I suppose, repeated his
demonstration that the thing was proper, necessary in the circumstances;
but Saldern, true to the inward voice, answered steadily:--

SALDERN. "For this commission your Majesty will easily find another
person in my stead."

KING (whirling hastily round, with an angry countenance, but, I should
say, an admirable preservation of his dignity in such extreme case).
"SALDERN, ER WILL NICHT REICH WERDEN,--Saldern, you refuse to become
rich." And EXIT, leaving Saldern to his own stiff courses. [Kuster,
_Charakterzuge des General-Lieutenant v. Saldern_ (Berlin, 17