nately.

PRINCE.

But they express themselves with more politeness in Holland.

KING.

How then, Prince?

PRINCE.

They say that Your Majesty's Guards consist mostly of men who suffer
from an abnormal growth. These giants, so they say, have periods where
they shoot up to such an extent that they grow and grow beyond the
tree-tops and disappear altogether from human ken.

KING.

Ha, ha! Wittily expressed. But drink, Prince, drink.

GRUMBKOW.

I imagined that Your Highness read only French journals.

PRINCE.

I would rather read Prussian newspapers. But, thanks to General von
Grumbkow's policies, no newspaper dare appear in Prussia.

KING.

Ha, ha! There you have it! [_Aside_.] See, see, he's not afraid to speak
his mind. 'Twill be a merry night.

HOTHAM (_aside to_ PRINCE).

Not too sharp--be milder at first.

GRUMBKOW (_aside_).

Seckendorf, it's time to exercise your wit.

SECKENDORF (_aside_).

Hush--I'm getting something ready. I will choose my own time.

KING.

But you're not drinking, Prince. You're expected to drink here.
[_Aside_.] Eversmann, keep his glass well filled--

HOTHAM (_aside_).

They want to make you drunk. Push your tankard nearer my place.

KING.

You know the old Dessauer, Prince?

PRINCE (surprised).

Why, Your Majesty--

KING.

But do you know for what great invention mankind is indebted to the old
Dessauer?

PRINCE (_aside_).

Do you know that, Hotham?

HOTHAM.

Damn their cross questioning--say it was gaiters.

PRINCE.

Your Majesty wishes to know what--what the old Dessauer invented?

KING.

Yes, what did the old Dessauer invent?

SECKENDORF (_aside_).

Aha, you see, now we have caught him.

PRINCE.

It can't be gunpowder, because Count Seckendorf has already discovered
that. [_All laugh_.]

SECKENDORF (_aside_).

Never mind, Grumbkow, I'll wait the fitting moment.

KING.

He invented _iron ramrods_. Now, you see, my son in Rheinsberg, for all
his Homers and Voltaires, and whatever their heathen names may be, that
he gathers round him, couldn't think of anything like that. [_Aside_.]
Is he drinking, Eversmann?

HOTHAM (_to_ PRINCE).

Don't let slip your advantage.

PRINCE.

Who the devil could think of iron ramrods!

GRUMBKOW (_rising_).

We'll drink a pleasant journey to His Highness, the Prince Hereditary of
Baireuth. [_They all rise except the_ KING.]

ALL.

A pleasant journey.

HOTHAM (_aside_).

You're