"Hoch!" he cried as he did so.
"Ditto hic," I answered, with my most charming smile. "I hope I do not disturb you, my dear Emperor?"
"Not in the least," he replied. "Nothing disturbs us. We are the very centre of equanimity. We are a sort of human Gibraltar which nothing can move. It is a nice day out," he added.
"Most charming," said I. "Indeed, a nicer day out than this no one could wish for."
"We are glad you find it so, madame."
"Excuse me, sire," I said, firmly—"Princess."
"Indeed yes. We had forgotten," he replied, with a courteous wave of his hand. "It could not be otherwise. We are glad, Princess, that you find the day nice out. We ordered it so, and it is pleasant to feel that what we do for the world is appreciated. We shall not ask you why you have sought this interview," he continued. "We can quite understand, without wasting our time on frivolous questions, why any one, even a beautiful American like yourself, should wish to see us in person. Are you in Berlin for long?"
"Only until next Thursday, sire," I replied.
"What a pity!" he commented, rising from the throne and stroking his mustache before one of the mirrors. "What a tremendous pity! We should have been pleased to have had you with us longer."