“The next day the steamer did not arrive at Green Bay until about three o’clock, and during most of the time we were in conversation.  On our arrival the prince said I would oblige him by accompanying him to his hotel, and taking up my quarters at the Astor House.  I begged to be excused, as I wished to go to the house of my father-in-law.  He replied he had some matters of great importance to speak to me about; and as he could not stay long at Green Bay, but would take his departure the next day, or the day after, he wished I would comply with his request.  As there was some excitement consequent on the prince’s arrival, and a great number of persons were at the Astor House wishing to see him, I thought I would take advantage of the confusion to go to my father-in-law’s, and promised to return in the evening when he would be more private.  I did so, and on my return found the prince alone, with the exception of one attendant, whom he dismissed.  He opened the conversation by saying he had a communication to make to me of a very serious nature as concerned himself, and of the last importance to me; that it was one in which no others were interested, and therefore, before proceeding farther, he wished to obtain some pledge of secrecy, some promise that I would not reveal to any one what he was going to say.  I demurred to any such conditions being imposed previous to my being acquainted with the nature of the subject, as there might be something in it, after all, prejudicial and injurious to others; and it was at length, after some altercation, agreed that I should pledge my honour not to reveal what the prince was going to say, provided there was nothing in it prejudicial to any one, and I signed a promise to this effect on a sheet of paper.  It was vague and general, for I would not tie myself down to absolute secrecy, but left the matter conditional.  When this was done the prince spoke to this effect—­

“’You have been accustomed, sir, to consider yourself a native of this country, but you are not.  You are of foreign descent; you were born in Europe, sir; and however incredible it may at first sight seem to you, you are the son of a king.  There ought to be much consolation to you to know this fact.  You have suffered a great deal, and have been brought very low; but you have not suffered more or been more degraded than my father, who was long in exile and in poverty in this country; but there is this difference between him and you, that he was all along aware of his high birth, whereas you have been spared the knowledge of your origin.’

“When the prince said this I was much overcome, and thrown into a state of mind which you can easily imagine.  In fact, I hardly knew what to do or say; and my feelings were so much excited that I was like one in a dream.  However, I remember I told him his communication was so startling and unexpected that he must forgive me for being incredulous, and that I was really between two.”