"This military sort of strictness, still more than the abominable jargon of the postilion, made me aware that I was about to enter the dominions of King Frederick William. As I had a corner of the coach, the tyranny of his Prussian majesty was tolerably endurable, and I soon fell fast asleep. About three in the morning, just as day was breaking, I awoke, and found that the diligence was standing still. I at first thought there was an accident, and put my head out of the window to see what was the matter. No accident had happened; no other coach was near--the road was excellent. We were alone and motionless. I took my ticket out of my pocket, read it from one end to the other, and having satisfied myself that it was not forbidden to _speak_ in the diligence, I asked my neighbour if we had been standing there long. "'About twenty minutes,' was the answer. "'And pray,' continued I, 'can you tell me what we are doing here?' "'We are waiting.' "'Ah! we are waiting. And for what?' "'For the time.' "'What time?' "'The time at which we are allowed to arrive.' "'There is a time fixed for arriving, then?' "'Every thing is fixed in Prussia.' "'And if we arrived before the time?' "'The conductor would be punished.' "'And if after?' "'He would also be punished.' "'Ah! that is very well arranged.' "'Every thing is well arranged in Prussia.' "I bowed assentingly. Not for worlds would I have contradicted a gentleman possessed of such an exalted opinion of his country and its institutions, and who answered my questions so courteously and laconically. My acquiescence appeared to gratify him. I felt encouraged, and continued my enquiries. "'Pardon me, sir, but at what hour ought the diligence to arrive at Aix-la-Chapelle?' "'At twenty-five minutes to five.' "'But if the conductor's watch were slow?' "'His watch can never be slow.' "'Indeed! And why so?' "'Opposite to where he sits, and under lock and key, there is a watch which is regulated before starting by the clock at the coach-office. The conductor knows at what hour he should pass through each town and village on his route, and he makes the postilions hurry or slacken their pace accordingly, so as to arrive at Aix-la-Chapelle exactly at the right time.' "'But with those precautions, how is it that we are obliged to wait upon the road?' "'The conductor has doubtless followed your example, and slept, and the postilions have taken advantage of that to go quicker.' "'Well, since we have still some time to remain here, I will get out and stretch my legs a little.' "'It is not allowed to get out of the diligence in Prussia.' "'Indeed! That is very agreeable. I wished particularly to look at that castle on the other side of the road.' "'That is Emmaburg. It is the scene of the famous legend of _Eginhard and Emma_.' "'Really! Be so obliging as to change places with me for a moment, that I may look at it through the window.'