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most of his Army ahead of him, and the remainder all under way. Friedrich and the rearward part of his Army are filing about, in that new Strehlen-ward movement of theirs, under cloud of night, in the intricate Hill-and-Dale Country; to post themselves to the best advantage for their double object, of covering Breslau and Neisse both. Kappel loquitur; abridged by Küster, whom we abridge:

'Monday Night, October 5th, 1761, The King, with two or 'three attendants, still ahead of his Army, appeared at Schönbrunn, a Schloss and Village, five or six miles south from 'Strehlen; and did the owner, Baron von Warkotsch, an ac'quaintance of his, the honour of lodging there. Before bed‘time,—if indeed the King intended bed at all, meaning to be ' off in four hours hence,—Friedrich inquired of Warkotsch for "a trusty man, well acquainted with the roads in this Country." 'Warkotsch mentioned Kappel, his own Groom; one who un'doubtedly knew every road of the Country; and who had 6 always behaved as a trusty fellow in the seven years he had 'been with him. "Let me see him," said the King. Kappel 'was sent up, about midnight, King still dressed; sitting on a 'sofa, by the fire: Kappel's look was satisfactory; Kappel 'knows several roads to Strehlen, in the darkest night: "It is the footpath which goes so-and-so that I want" (for Friedrich 'knows this Country intimately: readers remember his world'famous Camp of Strehlen, with all the diplomacies of Europe 'gathered there, through summer, in the train of Möllwitz). "Ja, Ihro Majestät, I know it!" "Be ready, then, at 4."

'Before the stroke of 4, Kappel was at the door, on Master's 'best horse; the King's Groom too, and led horse, a nimble 'little gray, were waiting. As 4 struck, Friedrich came down, 'Warkotsch with him, "Unspeakable the honour you have done 'my poor house!" Besides the King's Groom, there were a

This is the Warkotsch Schönbrunn; not the other near Schweidnitz, as Archenholtz believes see Archenholtz, ii. 287, and the bit of myth he has gone into in consequence.

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'Chamberlain, an Adjutant, and two mounted Chasers (reitende Jäger), which latter had each a lighted lantern: in all seven persons, including Kappel and the King. "Go before us on 'foot with your lanterns," said the King. Very dark it was. 'And overnight the Army had arrived all about; some of them 'just coming in, on different roads and paths. The King walked 'above two miles, and looked how the Regiments were, without 'speaking a word. At last, as the cannons came up, and were still in full motion, the King said: "Sharp, sharp, Bursche; it 'will be March directly." "March? The Devil it will; we are 'just coming into Camp!" said a canonier, not knowing it was 'the King.

'The King said nothing. Walked on still a little while; then ordered, "Blow out the lanterns; to horseback now!" ' and mounted, as we all did. Me he bade keep five steps ahead, 'five and not more, that he might see me; for it was very dark. 'Not far from the Lordship Casserey, where there is a Water'mill, the King asked me, "Haven't you missed the Bridge here?" (a King that does not forget roads and topographies 'which may come to concern him!)—and bade us ride with 'the utmost silence, and make no jingle. As day broke, we 'were in sight of Strehlen, near by the Farm of Treppendorf. "And do you know where the Kallenberg lies?" said the King: "It must be to left of the Town, near the Hills; bring us "thither!"

6

'When we got on the Kallenberg, it was not quite day; and we had to halt for more light. After some time, the King said to his Groom, "Give me my perspective!" looked slowly all 'round for a good while, and then said, "I see no Austrians!"— '(ground all at our choice, then; we know where to choose!) "The King then asked me if I knew the road to"-in fact, to several places, which, in a Parish History of those parts, would be abundantly interesting; but must be entirely omitted here. The King called his Chamberlain; gave some sign, "which meant "Beer-money to Kappel!"—and I got four eight'groschen pieces' (three shillings odd; a rich reward in those days); and was bid tell my Master, "That the King thanked 'him for the good quarters, and assured him of his favour."

'Riding back across country, Kappel, some four or five miles ' homeward, came upon the "whole Prussian Army," struggling forward in their various Columns. Two Generals,-one of 'them Krusemark, King's Adjutant (Colonel Krusemark, not 'General, as Kappel thinks, who came to know him some weeks 'after), had him brought up: to whom he gave account of 'himself, how he had been escorting the King, and where he ' had left his Majesty. "Behind Strehlen, say you? Breslau 'road? Devil knows whither we shall all have to go yet!" ob'served Krusemark, and left Kappel free."3

In those weeks, Colberg Siege, Pitt's Catastrophe, and high things are impending, or completed, elsewhere: but this is the one thing noticeable hereabouts. In regard to Strehlen, and Friedrich's history there, what we have to say turns all upon this Kappel and Warkotsch: and, after mentioning only that Friedrich's lodging is not in Strehlen proper, but in Woiselwitz, a village or suburb almost half a mile off, and very negligently guarded,—we have to record an Adventure which then made a great deal of noise in the world.

Warkotsch is a rich lord; Schönbrunn only one of five or six different Estates which he has in those parts; though, not many years ago, being younger brother, he was a Captain in the Austrian service (Regiment Botta, if you are particular); and lay in Olmütz,—with very dull outlooks; not improved, I should judge, by the fact that Silesia and the Warkotsch connexions were become Prussian since this junior entered the Austrian Army. The junior had sown his wild oats, and was already getting gray in the beard, in that dull manner, when, about seven years ago, his Elder Brother, to whom Friedrich had always been kind, fell unwell; and, in the end of

3 Küster, Lebens-Rettungen, pp. 66-76.

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1755, died: whereupon the junior saw himself Heir; and entered on a new phase of things. Quitted his Captaincy, quitted his allegiance; and was settled here peaceably under his new King in 1756, a little while before this War broke out. And, at Schönbrunn, October 5th, 1761, has had his Majesty himself for guest.

Warkotsch was not long in riding over to Strehlen to pay his court, as in duty bound, for the honour of such a Visit; and from that time, Kappel, every day or two, had to attend him thither. The King had always had a favour for Warkotsch's late Brother, as an excellent Silesian Landlord and Manager, whose fine Domains were in an exemplary condition; as, under the new Warkotsch too, they have continued to be. Always a gracious Majesty to this Warkotsch as well; who is an old soldier withal, and man of sense and ingenuity; acceptable to Friedrich, and growing more and more familiar among Friedrich's circle of Officers now at Strehlen.

To Strehlen is Warkotsch's favourite ride; in the solitary country, quite a charming adjunct to your usual dull errand out for air and exercise. Kappel, too, remarks about this time that he (Kappel)' gets once and again, and ever more frequently, a Letter to carry over to Siebenhuben, a Village three or four miles off; the Letter always for one Schmidt, who is Catholic Curate there; Letter under envelope, well sealed, and consisting of two pieces, if you finger it judiciously. And, what is curious, the Letter never has any address; Master merely orders, "Punctual; for Curatus Schmidt, you know!" What can this be? thinks Kappel. Some secret, doubtless; perhaps some intrigue, which Madam must not know of,-" Ach, Herr Baron; and at your age,-fifty, I am sure!" Kappel, a solid fellow, concerned for groom

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business alone, punctually carries his Letters; takes charge of the Responses too, which never have any Address; and does not too much trouble himself with curiosities of an impertinent nature.

To these external phenomena I will at present only add this internal one: That an old Brother Officer of Warkotsch's, a Colonel Wallis, with Hussars, is now lying at Heinrichau,—say, 10 miles from Strehlen, and about 10 from Schönbrunn too, or a mile more if you take the Siebenhuben way; and that all these missives, through Curatus Schmidt, are for Wallis the Hussar Colonel, and must be a secret, not from Madam alone! How a Baron, hitherto of honour, could all at once become turpissimus, the Superlative of Scoundrels? This is even the reason, the prize is so superlative.

'Monday Night, November 30th, 1761' (night bitter cold), Kappel finds himself sitting mounted, and holding Master's horse, in Strehlen, more exactly in Woiselwitz, a Suburb of 'Strehlen, near the King's door,-Majesty's travelling-coach 'drawn out there, symbol that Strehlen is ending, general de'parture towards Breslau now nigh. Not to Kappel's sorrow, per'haps, waiting in the cold there. Kappel waits, hour after hour; 'Master taking his ease with the King's people, regardless of 'the horses and me, in this shivery weather;-and one must not 'walk about either, for disturbing the King's sleep! Not till 'midnight does Master emerge, and the freezing Kappel and ' quadrupeds get under way. Under way, Master breaks out into 'singular talk about the King's lodging: Was ever anything so 'careless; nothing but two sentries in the King's anteroom; 'thirteen all the soldiers that are in Woiselwitz; Strehlen not 'available in less than twenty minutes: nothing but woods, 'haggly glens and hills, all on to Heinrichau: How easy to 'snatch off his Majesty! "Um Gottes Willen, my Lord, don't 'speak so: think if a patrolling Prussian were to hear it, in the 'dark!" Pooh, pooh, answers the Herr Baron.