"I will join you," said the Princess Marianne. "Our little Amelia died in our flight from Dantzic and I can be as happy with you in a prison as in a palace."
So the Prince departed, and the King and Queen waited.
The great scientist, Alexander von Humboldt, prepared Napoleon for his coming and he was received with both politeness and kindness.
At once, with glowing face, he offered himself as a hostage for his country.
Napoleon embraced him.
"That is very noble," he said, "but impossible." For he wanted money, not Princes.
When the news of this act spread through Germany it fired the people like a draught of strong wine.
"We will rise!" they cried. "Our Prince has set us an example! We will throw off the yoke of the oppressor!"
And so, in the darkest hour of the Fatherland, patriotism began to blaze brightly.
The French having evacuated Königsberg, the Queen longed to leave Memel, whose winds had never agreed with her.