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Then he said suavely: "But has the stratagem succeeded, Your Majesty?" The monarch knit his brow and looked at me. "Well, young man, did it work?" "... Because," Plessen went on, "if so, Grundt must be in Holland. In that case, why is he not here?" My heart sank within me. Above all things, I knew I must keep my countenance. The least sign of embarrassment and I was lost.
In the meantime it was settled that the Princess was to remain at Altona until something should be decided respecting her future condition. It was Baron Plessen, the Duke of Mecklenburg's Minister of State, who favoured me with a sight of the King of Denmark's letters. M. Plessen told me, likewise, at the time that the Duke had formed the irrevocable determination of not receiving his daughter.
An officer came in quickly, rigid with a frozen face, helmet on head, portfolio under his arm. The Kaiser walked the length of the room to his desk and sat down. Plessen and the other followed him. I remained where I was. They seemed to have forgotten all about me. A murmur rose from the desk. The officer was delivering his report.
When, on his expulsion from his States, after the battle of Jena, he took refuge in Altona, he requested, through the medium of his Minister at Hamburg, Count von Plessen, that I would give him permission occasionally to visit that city. This permission I granted without hesitation; but the Duke observed no precaution in his visits, and I made some friendly observations to him on the subject.
At the monarch's call, a white-haired officer emerged from the further end of the room, that part which was hidden from my view. The Kaiser put his hand on his shoulder. "A great joke, Plessen!" he said, chuckling. Then, to me: "Tell it again!" I had warmed to my work now. I gave as drily humorous an account as I could of Dr.
Not another man shall he have if I must go myself and teach his men their duty!" Plessen hurriedly left the desk and came to me. His old face was white and his hands were shaking. "Get out of here!" he said to me in a fierce undertone. "Wait outside and I will see you later!"
"Well, what is it; what is it?" "Despatches from General Head-quarters, Your Majesty! The General asked me to say the matter was urgent!" The Kaiser wakened in an instant. "Bring him in!" Then, to Plessen, he added in a voice from which all mirth had vanished, in accents of gloom: "At this hour, Plessen? If things have again gone wrong on the Somme!"
Grundt, fat and massive and podgy, hobbling on board the steamer at Tilbury, under the noses of the British police, with the document stowed away in his boot. The Kaiser punctuated my story with gusty guffaws, and emphasized the fun of the dénouement by poking the General in the ribs. Plessen laughed very heartily, as indeed he was expected to.
When, on his expulsion from his States, after the battle of Jena, he took refuge in Altona, he requested, through the medium of his Minister at Hamburg, Count von Plessen, that I would give him permission occasionally to visit that city. This permission I granted without hesitation; but the Duke observed no precaution in his visits, and I made some friendly observations to him on the subject.
"Plessen, come and hear how we've diddled the Englander again!"
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