"I should like," said he, "to remind your Majesty of an old story which might perhaps be applied to present circumstances."
"For instance?" queried Augustus.
"In old times," said Flemming, "before he met the beautiful Aurore, the Kurfürst of Saxony was in love with Rechenberg. Soon he wished to get rid of her. Then the Kurfürst of Saxony asked Chancellor Beichling to help him. Beichling courted the lady, and the King was freed."
"I doubt if you would succeed in the same way with Cosel," said the King.
"One could always try."
"Whom do you wish to make happy with her?"
"I would leave the choice to your Majesty's penetration," said Flemming.
The King strode up and down the room, smiling ironically.
"It is difficult to choose, for Cosel has very few acquaintances who would even dare to approach her. Why not employ Baron Lowendhal, who, being her relation and protégé, can approach her more easily than any one else. If I could prove to her that she was unfaithful, I should have a pretext for breaking with her."
"I will employ Lowendhal," said the General. "She has done a great deal for him, but the King has done more; besides, he would not like to fail with Cosel."