93), pp.
39-44.]

Nothing remained for Saldern but to fall ill, and retire from the
Service; which he did: a man honorably ruined, thought everybody;--which
did not prove to be the case, by and by.

This surely is a remarkable Dialogue; far beyond any of the Gellert
kind. An absolute King and Commander-in-Chief, and of such a type in
both characters, getting flat refusal once in his life (this once only,
so far as I know), and how he takes it:--one wishes Kuster, or somebody,
had been able to go into more details!--Details on the Quintus-Icilius
procedure, which followed next day, would also have been rather
welcome, had Kuster seen good. It is well known, Quintus Icilius and his
Battalion, on order now given, went cheerfully, next day, in Saldern's
stead. And sacked Hubertsburg Castle, to the due extent or farther:
100,000 thalers (15,000 pounds) were to be raised from it for the
Field-Hospital behoof; the rest was to be Quintus's own; who, it was
thought, made an excellent thing of it for himself. And in hauling
out the furnitures, especially in selling them, Quintus having an
enterprising sharp head in trade affairs, "it is certain," says Kuster,
as says everybody, "various SCHANDLICHKEITEN (scandals) occurred, which
were contrary to the King's intention, and would not have happened under
Saldern." What the scandals particularly were, is not specified to me
anywhere, though I have searched up and down; much less the net amount
of money realized by Quintus. I know only, poor Quintus was bantered
about it, all his life after, by this merciless King; and at Potsdam,
in years coming, had ample time and admonition for what penitence was
needful.

"The case was much canvassed in the Army," says poor Kuster; "it was
the topic in every tent among Officers and common Men. And among us
Army-Chaplains too," poor honest souls, "the question of conflicting
duties arose: Your King ordering one thing, and your own Conscience
another, what ought a man to do? What ought an Army-Chaplain to preach
or advise? And considerable mutual light in regard to it we struck out
from one another, and saw how a prudent Army-Chaplain might steer his
way. Our general conclusion was, That neither the King nor Saldern could
well be called wrong. Saldern listening to the inner voice; right he,
for certain. But withal the King, in his place, might judge such a thing
expedient and fit; perhaps Saldern himself would, had Saldern been King
of Prussia t