"Would you be so good, sir, as to have the kindness to give me back that note? I am sure that you are such a perfect gentleman!..." Then, turning towards the person who had accompanied her, the duchess exclaimed: "What fine eyes! Don't you think so? He is a handsome man, is he not?" Just as if the staff of the Foreign Office did not understand French! Lady Hester made game also of the sentimental couples dear to Kotzebue. With her hand on her heart, rolling her blue eyes, she aped the amorous transports of the newly married, representing in a second tableau, not less successful, the mistresses of the one and the lovers of the other. And the pleasant evenings when she was alone with William Pitt. The logs blazed joyously. The lamps were low. What wonderful hours, for ever fled, she had passed thus during nearly three years!... She heard William Pitt's clear voice. He was complaining of Canning, so elusive, so unstable, so false. Lady Hester protested mildly. "Perhaps he is thus merely in appearance, uncle," said she, "and only sacrifices his opinions ostensibly in order to strengthen your reputation." "I have lived for twenty-five years, my child, in the midst of men of every kind, and I have found only one human being capable of such a sacrifice." "Who can that be? Is it the Duke of Richmond? Is it such or such a person?" "No, it is you!" ... Hester plunged further into her reveries. Dear Uncle William! How he loved her! It seemed but yesterday evening that he said to her: "Little one, I have many good diplomatists who understand nothing of military operations, and I have many good officers who understand not a jot about diplomatic negotiations. If you were a man, Hester, I would send you on the Continent with sixty thousand men and I would give you carte blanche. And I am sure that all my plans would be executed and that all the soldiers would have their shoes blacked." Lady Hester recalled the promenades on the old feudal terrace of Windsor Castle. The King was there. All the princes and princesses revolved about him. All at once, the King stopped and, addressing himself to Pitt, said: "Pitt, I have found a Minister to replace you." Mr. Pitt immediately replied: "I am happy that Your Majesty has found someone to relieve me of the burden of affairs; a little rest and fresh air will do me good." The King continued as if he were concluding his sentence and had heard nothing: "A Minister better than you." "Your Majesty's choice cannot be other than excellent," replied Pitt, surprised. The King resumed: "I say, then, Pitt, that I have found a better Minister and, further, a very good general." Those present began to smile and to scoff stealthily at the King's favourite. Pitt, notwithstanding his experience of the Court, felt ill at ease. "Sir, will you condescend to tell me," said he, "who is this remarkable person to whom I render the homage due to his great talent and the choice of Your Majesty?"