“And how about Madame de Pompadour?”
“I thought, sire,” responded St. Arnaud, “that you did not know of her existence. At least, M. Voltaire says when he gave you Madame de Pompadour’s regards, you said, ‘I don’t know her.’”
Frederick looked gravely into St. Arnaud’s eyes, and then they both burst out laughing, and Frederick said:
“You should have seen M. Voltaire’s face before and after I made my remark. Harlequin in the show did not change so rapidly. I think that lady does not like me, either; and as for your Dauphiness—well, I am truly unfortunate in being so unpopular with the fair sex. I have done nothing to deserve it. Had they but allowed me to remain in peace! For peace is my dream, let me tell you. A man must have his dreams; who should know that better than I, whose early life was all spent in dreams? Even now I am fighting to conquer a peace.”
“So say all great captains, sire.”
“True; but most great captains have ulterior views. I have already all I want in this life—the throne of Prussia—if only those ladies I spoke of would let me enjoy it in quietness.”
“And the Empress Queen bewails daily that she, too, must ever be at war. If only she and the Emperor could have a little time to enjoy their heritage! The Empress Queen takes great interest in guns both great and small. Prince Leuchtenberg, who is the head of our artillery, often comes to the palace with his books and portfolios of drawings, and her Majesty says, ‘Such beautiful guns are too good to be used in killing the poor soldiers of the King of Prussia.’”
“But they are probably not too good to be used in killing the King of Prussia. Eh?”
“I do not think, sire, that her Majesty counts you among her favourites, or contemplates leaving you any part of her private fortune, or even money to buy a mourning ring.”
“She hates me like the devil. However, speaking of those guns, the Austrian artillery is as good as any in the world, my own not excepted. You did not invent the iron rammers and ramrods, but as soon as the Prince of Dessau contrived them you adopted them. Men have never ceased to labour diligently at the task of inventing implements with which to destroy men.”