Princesse d’Augustembourg, just then crossed the room on her way to the inner apartments of her brother. More or less reassured by her angelic face. I practically followed in her footsteps, trusting to make her, as it were, a shield against a stern reprisal, which, in our condition, would have absolutely filled the cup of our misfortunes. ‘Crimson with confusion and with drooping eyes, I tremblingly held out the petition given to me by my “father.” The prince looked fixedly at me and undoubtedly recognised me, but not a muscle of his face testified as much. On the contrary, he attentively read the document, then handing it to his sister he said, “One more victim of that French Revolution.” ‘After that he asked for some particulars about our situation, and equally kindly inquired about our resources and plans. Emboldened by his kind tone, I told him all we had suffered since our departure from France, our painful pilgrimage across Germany, our intention to get to Sweden, and our hope of securing the goodwill of the Comte de Fersen in my “father’s” behalf. ‘The princess had listened with the utmost attention to the recital of our misfortunes. When I came to the description of the journey on foot and to the enumeration of all our privations, the prince asked me, “But, no doubt, you know German?” “Alas, no,” I was obliged to answer, “and that’s what made our travels so terrible.” “Poor child,” said the princess, “you are somewhat too young to have suffered so much, and those dreary roads across our sandy plains must have seemed wellnigh endless to you.” ‘There were tears in her voice as she asked me other questions about my family, my education, and recollections of my country. The prince himself had meanwhile written some words on my petition. “I’ll reply to-morrow to your father,” he said, returning the document to me. “If you will go from here to my ‘privy purse office,’ they’ll give you a hundred golden Fredericks, which will enable you to proceed a little more comfortably.” “And I, monsieur,” added the princess, “I wish you every happiness; but should you fail to find some of it in Sweden, return to Denmark for an asylum, and you will, at any rate, find rest.” ‘The prince called his chamberlain to intimate that the interview was at an end, and told him to take me to his treasury. You may imagine that this lesson of a prince thus avenging himself for the impertinence of a stranger was not lost upon me. Young though I was, I promised myself never to give way again to such exhibitions of offensive hilarity, and I have kept my word.’ ‘I can see the lesson in politeness,’ said the Comte de Witt, ‘but I fail to see the lesson in German.’