“A small offence,” cried the general, whose countenance had resumed its dark, fierce expression.  “Come, that’s enough.  Stop, if you do not wish me to take back all that I have granted you.  Do you call that a small offence?  Why, sir, the editor of Spener’s Journal called me an adventurer, a renegade.  Ah! he at least shall feel that I have the power of punishing.”

“Why,” said Gotzkowsky calmly, “that would only prove to him that he had hit you on a tender spot.”

“And the scribbler of the Vossian Gazette, did he not venture even to attack my gracious empress?” continued Tottleben, perfectly carried away by his indignation.  “He wrote a conversation between peasants, and in it he made fun of the empress.  He even went so far as to make his own king join in the dirty talk, in the character of a peasant.  Sir, I am very much surprised that you should defend a man who carries his impudence so far as to canvass and scandalize the conduct of his own king in such a disrespectful and audacious manner.”

“The king is great enough to be able to bear this calumny of little minds.  Whosoever is truly great, is not afraid of free speaking nor of calumny.  Have you never heard the story of how the king was riding by, where the people were collected at the corner of a street, stretching out their necks to read a pasquinade which had been hung on the wall, and was directed against the king himself?  The king reigned in his horse, and read the hand-bill.  The people stood in silent terror, for the paper contained a sharp abuse of the king, and a libel on him in verse.  What does your excellency think the king did when he had read this most treasonable placard?”

“He had the mob cut it down, as it deserved to be, and the author strung up on the gallows,” cried Tottleben.

“Not at all, sir,” replied Gotzkowsky.  “He said, ’Let the paper be hung lower; the people can’t see to read it up so high.’  He then saluted the crowd, and rode off, laughing.”

“Did the great Fritz do that?” said Tottleben, unconsciously using the epithet which the Prussian people had applied to their king.

“He did it because he is great,” replied Gotzkowsky.

“Strange, hard to believe,” muttered the general, folding his arms, and striding up and down.  After a pause, Gotzkowsky inquired, “Would you not like to emulate the great king, general?”

Count Tottleben awoke from his reverie.  Approaching Gotzkowsky, he laid his hand upon his shoulder; his expression was indescribably mild and gentle, and a melancholy smile played around his lips.  “Hark’ee, I believe it would do me good if we could be always together.  Come with me.  Settle in Russia.  The empress has heard of you, and I know that she would be rejoiced if you came to Petersburg.  Do it.  You can make a large fortune there.  The empress’s favor will elevate you, and she will not let you want for orders or a title.”