Then an idea suggested itself to him. He went to a writing-table, dashed off a few lines on a sheet of paper, and rang.
“Take this immediately to the Rose-Palace,” he ordered the servant who responded to his summons. The note was addressed to Chlodwig Helmer, and contained an invitation to Mr. Helmer to call on the prince in the course of the afternoon, if he had time.
A quarter of an hour later, Chlodwig sent in his name. The prince was in his salon alone. He started forward to meet his visitor.
Helmer bowed:—
“Your Royal Highness summoned me....”
Victor Adolph offered him his hand: “Thank you for fulfilling my wish so promptly. Yesterday evening we had no opportunity, and I was so desirous of hearing a good deal more on the subject of your address. Let us sit down.... Here, please. A cigarette?” He held out his gold cigarette-case.
Chlodwig thanked him and took one. The prince also offered him a light and then kindled his own.
“You see, Herr Helmer,” he pursued, “what you said yesterday evening moved me tremendously. Partly, because you gave utterance to ideas which have been for a long time floating indefinitely in my mind, and partly because you opened up before me entirely new perspectives.”
“I am delighted to hear such a thing, Your Highness. Tell me what was familiar to you and what was new?”
“There is, for example, ... good Heavens, I really don’t know where to begin.... I should like to have a lesson in things which you did not speak about. I will ask you: If you were a king, what would you do to carry out the lofty flight of your ideals?”