Who could tell the thoughts that then filled his mind? The same evening he summoned Flemming. He was sarcastic and irritable.
"Old man," said he, jokingly, "Cosel complains of you. You must endure it; you must not pay attention to many things, the others you must forgive. You know I bear a great deal from her."
"Countess Cosel pays your Majesty with her love," said Flemming familiarly, "that is quite different."
"Well, get on well with Cosel," added Augustus.
"It will be difficult; I cannot be her courtier; I can neither lie nor flatter, and it is no easy matter for me to bow, for my back is old."
To this the King replied, laughing,--
"It is true, she does not like you either. She says that you look just like a monkey."
Flemming's eyes gleamed, he muttered something between his teeth, and then relapsed into silence.
Had the King desired to make them implacable enemies, he could not have employed better means.