"You are a very ignorant girl," said Bernhardt. "Never heard of the prodigious bosoms of Mademoiselle Chouin?"
"They won't let the Duke marry?" I queried.
"Not even temporarily," said Bernhardt. "And they are trying the same game on me. My garrison—a dung-heap. The people there, males and females, entirely unacquainted with soap and water. Nothing in the world to do but drink and gamble."
"That reminds me. What are you doing in Dresden?"
"With Your Imperial Highness's permission, I came to see my girl."
"Who is the lady?"
"No lady at all. Just an ordinary servant-wench, but prettier and more devilish than a hundred of them."
"Bernhardt!"
"What would you have me do, Louise? I haven't money enough to keep a mistress, and King and Queen certainly won't keep one for me. I wish I had lived a hundred and fifty years ago, when every lady of the court was expected to entertain the royal princes, the Palace footing the bill."