"This military sort of strictness, still more than the abominable jargon of the postilion, made me aware that I was about to enter the dominions of King Frederick William. As I had a corner of the coach, the tyranny of his Prussian majesty was tolerably endurable, and I soon fell fast asleep. About three in the morning, just as day was breaking, I awoke, and found that the diligence was standing still. I at first thought there was an accident, and put my head out of the window to see what was the matter. No accident had happened; no other coach was near—the road was excellent. We were alone and motionless. I took my ticket out of my pocket, read it from one end to the other, and having satisfied myself that it was not forbidden to speak in the diligence, I asked my neighbour if we had been standing there long.
"'About twenty minutes,' was the answer.
"'And pray,' continued I, 'can you tell me what we are doing here?'
"'We are waiting.'
"'Ah! we are waiting. And for what?'
"'For the time.'
"'What time?'
"'The time at which we are allowed to arrive.'
"'There is a time fixed for arriving, then?'
"'Every thing is fixed in Prussia.'