'What are you doing here?' Brühl repeated.
'We are wandering about that we may thank God by admiring nature and breathing the air of the forest, and that in this quiet we may lull our souls to prayer,' the youth said slowly. 'Night surprised us here; we should not have known of the presence of the King and his court, had it not been for the noise of the huntsmen.'
The words as well as the way they were pronounced struck Brühl. The man seemed to be from another world.
'Permit me, sir,' the student continued quietly, 'to introduce myself to you who seem to have some official position. I am Nicolaus Louis, Count and Lord of Zinzendorf and Pottendorf, at present studiosus, searching for the source of wisdom and light, a traveller, who has lost his way in the maze of this world.'
On hearing the name, Brühl looked at the stranger more attentively. The moon lit up the beautiful face of the student. They both remained silent for a time, as though not knowing what to say.
'I am Henry Brühl, his Majesty's page.'
Zinzendorf measured him with his eyes.
'I pity you very much,' he said sighing.
'Why?' asked the astonished page.
'Because to be courtier means to be a slave, to be a page means to be a servant, and although I respect the King, I prefer to serve the King of Heaven, to love Jesus Christ, our Saviour. You found us when we were praying, when we were trying to unite our thoughts with our Lord, who has saved us through His blood.'