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The German Classics of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries, Volume 07
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KING
Take your seats, gentlemen—no formalities—free choice—the smoke of war levels all rank.
GRUMBKOW
But the subject, Your Majesty, the subject promised for this evening?
KING
Ha, ha! The target? There it comes.
[HOTHAM and the PRINCE OF BAIREUTH come in.]
ALL
The Prince of Baireuth?
PRINCE
Good evening.
KING
Right, oh! Prince, that you are come. Now, at least, you will have something good about my family to tell them in Rheinsberg. [Aside.] Spy! [Aloud.] But your pipe is cold.
PRINCE (with suppressed anger).
I am hoping that I may find fire enough here.
[The company sit down, the KING and GRUMBKOW at one end of the table, HOTHAM and the PRINCE at the other.]
KING
Lay on, gentlemen—there stand the care-chasers.
SECKENDORF
To His Majesty's health!
KING
No, let us rather drink, after such a day of annoyance and sorrow—let us rather drink to cheer, jollity, and a happy turn of wit!
[They touch glasses with one another. EVERMANN moves about, serving the guests, passing coal for the pipes, and so forth.]
KING (aside).
Grumbkow, I wager it will be right jolly tonight.
GRUMBKOW (aside).
We'll soon begin to tap the Prince.
KING (aside).
Be merciful. His brow is already bedewed with the sweat of anxiety. [Aloud.] Tell me. Prince, since you have windbagged yourself about so much of the world—do they smoke tobacco in Versailles also?
[Illustration: KING FREDERICK WILLIAM I AND HIS "TOBACCO COLLEGIUM"
ADOLPH VON MENZEL]
PRINCE
No. Your Majesty, but I've seen sailors in London who chew it.
KING
Brr! Grumbkow, we'll not introduce that fashion here. It's not because of the taste, but such meals would be right costly.
HOTHAM
Our sailors use tobacco as a remedy for scurvy.
SECKENDORF
What is scurvy?
PRINCE
The scurvy, Count, is a disease which begins with an evil tongue.
KING (aside).
Take notice, Grumbkow, he's pricked. On with the attack.
GRUMBKOW
Eversmann, have the newest Dutch journals arrived?
EVERSMANN
Yes, Your Excellency; full of lies, as usual.
KING
Lies? Then, according to the proverb, that explains why our beer is so sour.
GRUMBKOW
