“‘The monarchic, if the king is just and enlightened.’
“‘Very well,’ said he; ‘but where will you find kings of that sort?’ And thereupon went into such a sally as could not in the least lead me to suppose that he was one. In the end, he expressed pity for them, that they could not know the sweets of friendship, and cited on the occasion these verses—his own, I suppose:
“‘Amitié, plaisir des grandes âmes;
Amitié, que les rois, ces illustres ingrats
Sont assez malheureux de ne connaître pas!’
“‘I have not the honor to be acquainted with kings,’ said I; ‘but, to judge from what one has read in history of several of them, I should believe, sir, on the whole, that you are right.’
“‘Ah! yes, yes,’ he added, ‘I’m right. I know the gentlemen.’
“A droll incident happened during our dialogue. My gentleman wanted to let down a little sash window, and could not manage it. ‘You do not understand that,’ said I; ‘let me do it.’ I tried to get it down, but succeeded no better than he.
“‘Sir,’ said he, ‘allow me to remark, on my side, that you understand as little of it as I.’
“‘That is true,’ I replied, ‘and I beg your pardon. I was too rash in accusing you of a want of expertness.’
“‘Were you ever in Germany?’ he now asked me.
“‘No,’ I answered; ‘but I should like to make that journey. I am very curious to see the Prussian states and their king, of whom one hears so much.’ And now I began to launch out on Frederick’s actions.