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Updated: June 8, 2025
"I shall be in arrest when his order arrives. Perhaps that will soften his anger." Accordingly, when Kaphengst arrived at the court guard, in Potsdam, he assumed the character of a drunken, quarrelsome officer, and played his role so well that the commander placed him in arrest.
"Impossible, my prince." "Well, we will have to renounce it," said the prince, sighing. "Renounce seeing the king, yes! for he will not leave his rooms in Sans-Souci today." "Then we would be entirely safe; he would not notice our departure," said Kaphengst, quickly. "Entirely safe," said Pollnitz.
The king's words were: "You are a captain, but he is a scoundrel who repeats it!" Thus Baron Kaphengst was captain, but no one suspected it; the captain remained a simple lieutenant in the eyes of the world. Baron Weingarten, the new secretary of legation of the Austrian embassy in Berlin, paced the ambassador's office in great displeasure.
But how is this?" said the king, interrupting himself, "those two giant forms at the side of the little Armenians are certainly Barons Kalkreuth and Kaphengst, and that is my brother with them. Poor Henry! you have made a bad use of your freedom, and must, therefore, soon lose it. Ah! see how searchingly he turns his head, seeking his beautiful odalisque! In vain, my brother, in vain!
I, as prince, and Hohenzollern, dare the worst, but, be assured, I shall pay for my presumption. Farewell, and hasten! Do not forget Kalkreuth." Kaphengst sought in vain. Kalkreuth was nowhere to be found, and he had to wend his way alone to Potsdam. "I shall take care not to await the order of the king for my arrest," said Baron Kaphengst to himself, as he rode down the road to Potsdam.
I think we can profit by this, and therefore I shall take leave of you for a while, and seek my own adventures." "I advise you," murmured Baron Kaphengst, laughingly, "to appoint no rendezvous for to-morrow." "And why not, friend?" "Because you will not be able to appear; for you will doubtless be in arrest."
But Baron Kaphengst avoided, with dignified gravity, all inquiries, and only whispered to his commander softly, but loud enough for every one to hear, the words, "State secrets," then bowing profoundly, returned with an earnest and grave face to his dwelling, there to meditate at his leisure upon the king's words words both gracious and cruel, announcing his advancement, but at the same time condemning him to secrecy.
The comrades and officers, yes, even the generals, saw not without envy that the king was so gracious to the young Lieutenant von Kaphengst; whispered a few words to him confidentially, and then smiling and bowing graciously, moved on. It was, therefore, natural that, when the king left, all were anxious to congratulate the young lieutenant, and ask him what the king had whispered.
I sought in you a brave and obedient officer, and it appears that you are not that. You are not, then, Lieutenant von Kaphengst?" Kaphengst thought a moment. He was convinced it was the king that spoke with him, for Frederick had not attempted to disguise his voice. Kaphengst knew he was discovered. There remained nothing for him but to try and reconcile the king by a jest.
For to-day, at least, we have made her a repentant Magdalen; to-morrow she will be again a life-enjoying Aspasia. Ah, the prince separates himself from his followers. I have a few words to whisper in the ear of the gay Kaphengst." The king stepped back into the room, and after resuming his mask, he descended into the saloon, accompanied by his grand chamberlain.
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