“To come to my story, they say I named you personally.[100] You know the rest. I need not justify myself to you; you know me too well. I am now trying to find the author of this underhand business. Should I unearth him, I will avenge myself in a way that will make others careful not to invent any more lies. My brother-in-law also has a little matter to settle. Some one said in his cups: ‘O, truly, when one has a sister-in-law who sleeps with a prince one can soon have regiments’.[101] They say that the author of this story is Lieutenant-Colonel Grot, or little Count Steinbock. We shall demand an explanation sword in hand, and see what they will say. I leave to-morrow for my estate. Farewell.” ----- Footnote 98: East Friesland. Colt sometimes calls her “Otfrise” too. Footnote 99: Count and Countess Lewenhaupt. Footnote 100: It is worthy of note that the same charge, boasting when he was in his cups, of his intimacy with the Princess was made against Königsmarck two years later (1694) at the court of Dresden. Footnote 101: This refers to Aurora von Königsmarck and the recent appointment of Count Lewenhaupt to a regiment of Celle. ----- “_En Route._ “On dismounting here they gave me three of your letters. Picture my joy! I had begun to think that you had quite forgotten me. M. de Bielke has begged me to come to supper with him, but as some ladies with whom I used to flirt will be there, I am not going, for I want to have the satisfaction of swearing to you that all the time I am away I have not said sweet things to any woman whatsoever.... Do not write to me any more. Two of your letters have been sealed with another seal, and that makes me fear. I will show them to you.” “_Monday evening at_ REINBEK.[102]