The King took the cup, examined it carefully, and then held it against the light.
"You say you made this?"
Bottiger bent down and picked up several fragments, then from beneath the papers he drew forth several saucers, which he handed to the King and Cosel.
"Why, it is the most beautiful china in the world!" exclaimed Augustus.
Bottiger was silent.
"You are truly a discoverer! You have found out a wonderful secret! For God's sake, make porcelain for me! I paid fifty thousand thalers for one Chinese service. The Prussian robbed me; he took away a company of my best-looking soldiers: you can make porcelain, and you say nothing about it!"
"It was only an experiment."
"A most successful experiment! Bottiger, you shall make the first service for Diana!"
Seeing the King's enthusiasm, Fürstenberg and Nehmitz both approached to look at the wonderful discovery, but the Prince was dissatisfied, for he feared the alchemist would neglect the gold for the porcelain.
The King rejoiced more over this discovery than he would have done had he been told that the Swedes had left Saxony. He took the cup, and, after again expressing his great satisfaction, turned towards the door. To save the King and Cosel the trouble of ascending the narrow stairs, Bottiger opened the door that led directly into his garden, from whence they returned to the back balcony.