"I have lived for twenty-five years, my child, in the midst of men of every kind, and I have found only one human being capable of such a sacrifice."
"Who can that be? Is it the Duke of Richmond? Is it such or such a person?"
"No, it is you!" ...
Hester plunged further into her reveries. Dear Uncle William! How he loved her! It seemed but yesterday evening that he said to her: "Little one, I have many good diplomatists who understand nothing of military operations, and I have many good officers who understand not a jot about diplomatic negotiations. If you were a man, Hester, I would send you on the Continent with sixty thousand men and I would give you carte blanche. And I am sure that all my plans would be executed and that all the soldiers would have their shoes blacked."
Lady Hester recalled the promenades on the old feudal terrace of Windsor Castle. The King was there. All the princes and princesses revolved about him. All at once, the King stopped and, addressing himself to Pitt, said:
"Pitt, I have found a Minister to replace you."
Mr. Pitt immediately replied:
"I am happy that Your Majesty has found someone to relieve me of the burden of affairs; a little rest and fresh air will do me good."
The King continued as if he were concluding his sentence and had heard nothing:
"A Minister better than you."