They entered the room where the lackeys were in readiness to undress the King and to give him his much-preferred robe de chambre. Both ministers waited till the lackeys were dismissed, when Sulkowski whispered something to the King, smiled and pointed to Brühl. The minister noticed the movement and came near; Sulkowski began to whisper to him. It was evident that Brühl did not like what he said, he looked at the King, hesitated a little as though he regretted leaving them together, then he bowed submissively and left the room.
When the door was closed, Augustus III smiled and sitting in a chair, said laconically as was his custom:
'There are only you and Brühl.'
Sulkowski did not like the sound of the rival name, but he was obliged to put up with it.
The pictures presented to the King that day stood before him, and he looked at them with evident delight. Sulkowski tried to guess the King's thoughts.
'Yes,' said he after a while, 'Brühl is excellent for many reasons; he is modest, intelligent, never contradicts me. I do what I please with him. I am very satisfied with him.'
The King only nodded. Perhaps it may have seemed to him strange that Sulkowski should speak in that patronising way about Brühl, but he did not show it.
The minister walked to and fro as if he were in his own room.
'I have not the slightest reason, as I said,' continued Sulkowski, 'to be dissatisfied with Brühl; he is intelligent and capable, but has some faults--'
The King looked at him sharply; Sulkowski finished imperturbably.