I had been speaking to Duke Joachim of Alexander's successors, from the fighting of the Epigones in the streets of Babylon to the victory of Cyropedeon, which established the dynasties of the Lagides and Seleucides after the downfall of Lysimachus. I had been trying to bring before the eyes of my young German prince the grand and tragic figures of Eumenes, chief of the Argyraspides, Polysperschon, Antipates, Antigone Gonates, and Demetrius Poliorcetes. He listened attentively, taking notes with a docility which I should have preferred less abject.... The Grand Duke had sat down, and was also listening. Hypnotized by his grave, intellectual face, it was really to Frederick-Augustus, not the dull-witted Joachim, that my words were addressed. He was my audience as I closed with an attempt to show how the crumbling empires of the Epigones were to facilitate the victory of centralizing Rome. As at this point I began to show signs of embarrassment, Frederick-Augustus broke in, with a smile: "Don't let my presence embarrass you if you want to establish a parallel between Rome and Prussia." It was obviously difficult for me to emphasize, in front of him, the dependence of the princes of the German Confederation on the King of Prussia. I did so, however, and he approved. "God grant that this dependence," he said, "like the dependence of the powers allied to Rome, may mean the greatness of Germany and the peace of the world." I ended by giving my pupil a list of the books bearing on my lesson, and mentioned that indispensable work, Droysen's "History of Hellenism." "But excuse me, monsieur," said the Grand Duke, "is there no French work which can be used instead of Droysen?" Even at the Sorbonne I had never felt so ashamed to say that there was not. Eleven o'clock struck. "Joachim," said the Grand Duke, "you can go. Please stay, Monsieur Vignerte." We were alone. "Monsieur," he said in his fine but grave, indeed rather melancholy voice, "you have hitherto had reason to think me sparing of compliments which you must have considered your due. I have always had the bad habit of waiting a long time before expressing opinions. The right moment has now arrived, monsieur. Yesterday, unknown to you, your pupil was examined by a Professor of Kiel University with little predilection for French methods. This professor has had to confess himself astonished at the results you have obtained." He added, in a tone in which I detected a certain trace of bitterness: "I know that the harvester deserves all the more praise when he has obtained his harvest from poor soil. Allow me to address my thanks to you today, and express the wish that the hospitality of Lautenburg may be sufficiently attractive to keep you here until you have completed a task so well begun." "Your Highness's kindness overwhelms me, sir," I replied, deeply moved.