〃Well；　sir；〃　said　the　king；　〃we　are　now　in　that　room　in　which　I　lately　told　you　I　was　but　a　republican。　You　have　crossed　the　threshold　of　the　republic　of　letters！〃
  〃But　I　see　a　king　before　me；〃　said　the　duke；　bowing　reverentially；　〃a　king　who　has　vanquished　his　republic；　and　surpassed　all　the　great　spirits　that　have　gone　before　him。〃
  The　king's　glance　rested　upon　the　shelves　filled　with　books；　on　whose　back　glittered　in　golden　letters　the　most　distinguished　names　of　all　ages。
  〃Homer；　Tacitus；　Livy；　Petrarch！ye　great　spirits　of　my　republic！　hear　how　this　traitor　slanders　you。〃
  〃How　I　honor　you；　sire；　for　truly　it　is　a　great　honor　to　be　subdued　and　vanquished　by　such　a　king　as　Frederick　the　Second。〃
  The　king　looked　at　him　fixedly。　〃You　wish　to　bewilder　me　with　flattery；　duke；〃　said　he；　〃well　knowing　that　it　is　a　sweet　opiate；　acceptable　to　princes；　generally　causing　their　ruin。　But　in　this　chamber；　duke；　I　am　safe　from　this　danger；　and　here　in　my　republic　we　will　both　enjoy　the　Spartan　soup　of　truth。　Believe　me；　sir；　it　is　at　times　a　wholesome　dish；　though　to　the　pampered　stomach　it　is　bitter　and　distasteful。　I　can　digest　it；　and　as　you　have　come　to　visit　me；　you　will　have　to　partake　of　it。〃
  〃And　I　crave　it；　sirecrave　it　as　a　man　who　has　fasted　for　two　weeks。〃
  〃For　two　weeks？〃　said　the　king；　laughing。　〃Ah；　it　is　true　you　have　been　here　just　that　time。〃
  〃For　two　long　weeks　has　your　majesty　kept　me　fasting　and　longing　for　this　precious　soup；〃　said　the　duke；　reproachfully。
  〃My　broth　was　not　ready；〃　said　the　king；　gayly；　〃it　was　still　bubbling　in　the　pot。　It　is　now　done；　and　we　will　consume　it　together。　Let　us　be　seated；　duke。〃
  If　Frederick　had　turned　at　this　moment；　he　would　have　seen　the　grand　chamberlain　Pollnitz　advancing　on　tiptoe　to　the　open　door；　in　order　to　listen　to　the　conversation。　But　the　king　was　looking　earnestly　at　the　ambassador。　After　a　few　moments　of　silence；　he　turned　to　the　duke。
  〃Is　my　soup　still　too　hot　for　you？〃　said　he；　laughingly。
  〃No；　sire；〃　said　the　duke；　bowing。　〃But　I　waited　for　your　majesty　to　take　the　first　spoonful。　Would　it　not　be　better　to　close　that　door？〃
  〃No；〃　said　the　king；　hastily；　〃I　left　it　open；　intentionally；　so　that　your　eyes；　when　wearied　with　the　gloom　of　my　republic；　could　refresh　themselves　on　the　glittering　costumes　of　my　courtiers。〃
  〃He　left　it　open；〃　thought　the　duke；　〃for　these　courtiers　to　hear　all　that　is　said。　He　wishes　the　whole　world　to　know　how　he　rejected　the　friendship　of　France。〃
  〃Well；〃　said　the　king；　〃I　will　take　my　spoonful。　We　will　commence　without　further　delay。　Duke　de　Nivernois；　you　are　here　because　the　contract　made　between　France　and　Prussia　is　at　an　end；　and　because　France　wishes　me　to　fancy　that　she　is　anxious　for　a　renewal　of　this　treaty；　and　for　the　friendship　of　Prussia。〃
  〃France　wishes　to　convince　you　of　this；　sire；〃　said　the　duke。
  〃Convince　me？〃　said　the　king；　ironically。　〃And　how？〃
  〃King　Louis　of　France　not　only　proposes　to　renew　this　contract；　she；　who　he　wishes　to　draw　the　bonds　of　friendship　much　closer　between　France　and　Prussia。〃
  〃And　to　what　end？〃　said　the　king。　〃For　you　well　know；　duke；　that　in　politics　personal　inclinations　must　not　be　considered。　Were　it　not　so；　I　would；　without　further　delay；　grasp　the　friendly　hand　that　my　brother　of　France　extends　toward　me；　for　the　whole　world　knows　that　I　love　France；　and　am　proud　of　the　friendship　of　her　great　spirits。　But　as；　unfortunately；　there　is　no　talk　here　of　personal　inclinations　but　of　politics；　I　repeat　my　question。　To　what　end　does　France　desire　the　friendship　of　Prussia？　What　am　I　to　pay　for　it？　You　see；　duke；　I　am　a　bad　diplomatistI　make　no　digression；　but　go　to　the　point　at　once。〃
  〃And　that；　perhaps；　is　the　nicest　diplomacy；〃　said　the　duke；　sighing。
  〃But；　duke；　do　tell　me；　why　is　France　so　anxious　for　the　friendship　of　Prussia？〃
  〃To　have　an　ally　in　you　and　be　your　ally。　By　the　first；　France　will　have　a　trusty　and　powerful　friend　in　Germany　when　her　lands　are　attacked　by　the　King　of　England；　by　the　last；　your　majesty　will　have　a　trusty　and　powerful　friend　when　Prussia　is　attacked　by　Russia　or　Austria。〃
  〃We　will　now　speak　of　the　first；〃　said　the　king；　quietly。　〃France；　then；　thinks　to　transplant　this　war　with　England　to　German　ground？〃
  〃Everywhere；　sire；　that　the　English　colors　predominate。　England　alone　will　be　accountable　for　this　war。〃
  〃It　is　true　England　has　been　hard　upon　you；　but　still　it　seems　to　me　you　have　revenged　yourselves　sufficiently。　When　England　made　herself　supreme　ruler　of　the　Ohio；　France；　by　the　conquest　of　the　Isle　of　Minorca；　obtained　dominion　over　the　Mediterranean　Sea；　thereby　wounding　England　so　deeply；　that　in　her　despair　she　turned　her　weapons　against　herself。　Admiral　Byng；　having　been　overcome　by　your　admiral　Marquis　de　la　Gallissionaire；　paid　for　it　with　his　life。　I　think　France　should　be　satisfied　with　this　expiation。〃
  〃France　will　wash　off　her　insults　in　English　blood；　and　Minorca　is　no　compensation　for　Canada　and　Ohio。　England　owes　us　satisfaction；　and　we　will　obtain　it　in　Hanover。〃
  〃In　Hanover？〃　repeated　the　king；　angrily。
  〃Hanover　will　be　ours；　sire；　though　we　had　no　such　ally　as　Germany；　but　it　will　be　ours　the　sooner　if　we　have　that　help　which　you　can　give　us。　Standing　between　two　fires；　England　will　have　to　succumb；　there　will　be　no　escape　for　her。　That　is　another　advantage；　sire；　that　France　expects　from　the　treaty　with　Prussia。　But　I　will　now　speak　of　the　advantages　which　your　majesty　may　expect　from　this　alliance。　You　are　aware　that　Prussia　is　surrounded　by　threatening　enemies；　that　Austria　and　Russia　are　approaching　her　borders　with　evil　intentions；　and　that　a　day　may　soon　come　when　Maria　Theresa　may　wish　to　reconquer　this　Silesia　which；　in　her　heart；　she　still　calls　her　own。　When　this　time　comes；　your　majesty　will　not　be　alone；　your　ally；　France；　will　be　at　your　side；　she　will　repay　with　faithful；　active　assistance　the　services　which　your　majesty　rendered　her　in　Hanover。　She　will　not　only　render　her　all　the　assistance　in　her　power；　but　she　will　also　allow　her　to　partake　of　the　advantages　of　this　victory。　Hanover　is　a　rich　land；　not　rich　only　in　products；　but　in　many　other　treasures。　The　Electors　of　Hanover　have　in　their　residences　not　only　their　chests　filled　with　gold　and　precious　jewels；　but　also　the　most　magnificent　paintings。　It　is　but　natural　that　we　should　pay　ourselves　in　Hanover　for　the　expenses　of　this　war　of　which　England　is　the　cause。　You；　then；　will　share　with　us　these　treasures。　And　still　this　is　not　all。　France　is　grateful；　she　offers　you；　therefore；　one　of　her　colonies；　the　Isle　of　Tobago；　as　a　pledge　of　friendship　and　love。〃
  〃Where　is　this　isle？〃　said　the　king；　quietly。
  〃In　the　West　Indies；　sire。〃
  〃And　where　is　Hanover？〃
  The　duke　looked　at　the　king　in　amazement；　and　remained　silent。
  The　king　repeated　his　question。
  〃Well；〃　said　the　duke；　hesitatingly；　〃Hanover　is　in　Germany。〃
  〃And　for　this　German　land　which；　with　my　aid；　France　is　to　conquer；　I　am　to　receive　as　a　reward　the　little　Isle　of　Tobago　in　the　West　Indies！　Have　you　finished；　dyke；　or　have　you　other　propositions　to　make？〃
  〃Sire；　I　have　finished；　and　await　your　answer。〃
  〃And　this　answer；　duke；　shall　be　clearer　and　franker　than　your　questions。　I　will　begin　by　answering　the　latter　part　of　your　speech。　Small　and　insignificant　as　the　King　of　Prussia　may　appear　in　your　eyes；　I　would　have　you　know　he　is　no　robber；　no　highwayman；　he　leaves　these　brilliant　amusements　without　envy　to　France。　And　now；　my　dear　duke；　I　must　inform　you；　that　since　this　morning　it　has　been　placed　out　of　my　power　to　accept　this　alliance；　for　this　morning　a　treaty　was　signed；　by　which　I　became　the　ally　of　England！〃
  〃It　is　impossible；　sire；〃　cried　the　duke；　〃this　cannot　be！〃
  〃Not　possible；　sir！〃　said　the　king；　〃and　still　it　is　true。　I　have　formed　a　treaty　with　Englandthis　matter　is　settled！　I　have　been　an　ally　of　Louis　XV。；　I　have　nothing　to　complain　of　in　him。　I　love　him；　well；　am　I　now　his　enemy？　I　hope　that　there　may　be　a　time　when　I　may　again　approach　the　King　of　France。　Pray　tell　him　how　anxiously　I　look　forward　to　this　time。　Tell　him　I　am　much　attached　to　him。〃
  〃Ah；　sire；〃　said　the　duke；　sighing；　〃it　is　a　great　misfortune。　I　dare　not　go　to　my　monarch　with　this　sad；　unexpected　news；　my　monarch　who　loves　you　so　tenderly；　whose　most　earnest　wish　it　is　for　France　to　be　allied　to　Prussia。〃
  〃Ah；　duke；　〃said　Frederick；　laughing；　〃France　wishes　for　ships　as　allies。　I　have　none　to　offerEngland　has。　With　her　help　I　shall　keep　the　Russians　from　Prussia；　and　with　the　aid　she　will　keep　the　French　from　Hanover。〃
  〃We　are　to　be　enemies；　then？〃　said　the　duke；　sadly。
  〃It　is　a　necessary　evil；　for　which　there　is　no　remedy。　But　Louis　XV。　can　form　other　alliances；〃　said　Frederick；　ironically。　〃It　may　be　for　his　interest　to　unite　with　the　house　of　Austria！〃
  The　duke　was　much　embarrassed。
  〃Your　majesty　is　not　in　earnest；〃　said　he；　anxiously。
  〃Why　not；　duke？〃　said　Frederick；　〃an　alliance　between　France　and　Austriait　sounds　very　natural。　If　I　were　in　your　place；　I　would　propose　this　to　my　court。〃
  He　now　rose；　which　was　a　sign　to　the　duke　that　the　audience　was　at　an　end。
  〃I　must　now　send　a　courier　at　once