ICH. "'Yes, your Majesty: the steeple rising there over the firs, that is Ruppin.' KING (leaning out of the carriage with his prospect-glass). "'Ja, ja, that is it, I know it yet. Can I see Drammitz hereabouts?' ICH. "'No, your Majesty: Drammitz lies too far to the left, close on Kiritz.' KING. "'Sha'n't we see it, when we come closer?' ICH. "'Maybe, about Neustadt; but I am not sure.' KING. "'Pity, that. Can I see Pechlin?' ICH. "'Not just now, your Majesty; it lies too much in the hollow. Who knows whether your Majesty will see it at all!' KING. "'Na, keep an eye; and if you see it, tell me. Where is the Beamte of Alt-Ruppin?' ICH. "'In Protzen, where we change horses, he will be.' KING. "'Can't we yet see Pechlin?' ICH. "'No, your Majesty.' KING. "'To whom belongs it now?' ICH. "'To a certain Schonermark.' KING. "'Is he of the Nobility?' ICH. "'No.' KING. "'Who had it before him?' ICH. "'The Courier (FELDJAGER) Ahrens; he got it by inheritance from his father. The property has always been in commoners' (BURGERLICHEN) hands. KING. "'That I am aware of. How call we the village here before us?' ICH. "'Walcho.' KING. "'To whom belongs it?' ICH. "'To you, your Majesty, under the Amt Alt-Ruppin.' KING. "'What is the village here before us?' ICH. "'Protzen.' KING. "'Whose is it?' ICH. "'Herr von Kleist's.' KING. "'What Kleist is that?' ICH. "'A son of General Kleist's.' KING. "'Of what General Kleist's.' ICH. "'His brother was FLUGELADJUTANT [WING-adjutant, whatever that may be] with your Majesty; and is now at Magdeburg, Lieutenant-Colonel in the Regiment Kalkstein.' KING. "'Ha, ha, that one! I know the Kleists very well. Has this Kleist been in the service too?' ICH. "'Yea, your Majesty; he was ensign in the regiment Prinz Ferdinand.' KING. "'Why did the man seek his discharge?' ICH. "'That I do not know.' KING. "'You may tell me, I have no view in asking: why did the man take his discharge?' ICH. "'Your Majesty, I really cannot say.' "We had now got on to Protzen. I perceived old General van Ziethen standing before the Manor-house in Protzen,"--rugged brave old soul; with his hanging brows, and strange dim-fiery pious old thoughts!--"I rode forward to the carriage and said:-- ICH. "'Your Majesty, the Herr General von Ziethen is [are, SIND] also here.' KING. "'Where? where? Oh, ride forward, and tell the people to draw up; they must halt, I'll get out.' "And now his Majesty got out; and was exceedingly delighted at the sight of Herr General von Ziethen; talked with him and Herr von Kleist of many things: Whether the draining of the Luch had done him good; Whether the murrain had been there among their cattle?--and recommended rock-salt against the murrain. Suddenly his Majesty stept aside, turned towards me, and called: 'Amtmann! [THEN CLOSE INTO MY EAR] Who is the fat man there with the white coat?' ICH (ALSO CLOSE INTO HIS MAJESTY'S EAR). "'Your Majesty, that is the Landrath Quast, of the Ruppin Circle.'