The Emperor’s Thoughtfulness
While the Emperor and Empress were at Ems, Count von Gneisenau, a son of the famous general of that name, was often asked to dine at the royal table. It was his habit always to decline the after-dinner coffee. One day he had again been a guest at dinner. A lackey offered him a cup of coffee. The Count declined, without interrupting his conversation with the Empress. A second time a cup was offered to him, and before he could decline again, the Empress said: “Do take that cup!”
The Count obeyed, but held the cup in his hand. The Emperor coming up to them remarked: “Why, Gneisenau, you are not drinking your coffee!”
The Count murmured a few words of excuse. “Well, you might at least look at the cup!”
Gneisenau did so. Tears of emotion dimmed his eyes. On the cup was the portrait of his father. With a benevolent smile, the Emperor said:
“I saw that cup this morning in one of the stalls of the promenade and bought it for you! You must always drink out of it.”