Cosel frowned.
"Then even in my own house," said she, "I cannot say what I please?"
"Yes, you can," said the General, "but one can also go where one does not wish to go."
"Even I?"
"Dear Countess," said the General, sighing, "it might happen even to you. A military order prevails in our country. I would advise you to play trictrac; it amuses, and is less dangerous."
Cosel dropped her head sadly.
"You may think," continued the General, "that I am grumbling, as old people do. Well, then, I will tell you that somebody advised me to warn you."
Having said this, he quietly left the room, and the Countess threw herself on the sofa and laughed bitterly.
But she did not listen to the warning, and when her guests gathered again, her words were many and loud, in utter defiance of the severity with which she was threatened.
One morning the Governor-general of Berlin came to Cosel's house. He saluted her civilly, smiled, twisted his moustache, and then asked her,--